River! river! little river! Bright you sparkle on your way; O'er the yellow pebbles dancing, Through the flowers and foliage glancing, Like a child at play. River! river! swelling river! On you rush o'er rough and smooth; Louder, faster, brawling, leaping Over rocks, by rose-banks sweeping, Like impetuous youth. River! river! brimming river! Broad, and deep, and still as Time; Seeming still, yet still in motion, Tending onward to the ocean, Just like mortal prime. River! river! rapid river! Swifter now you slip away; Swift and silent as an arrow, Through a channel dark and narrow, Like life's closing day. River! river! headlong river! Down you dash into the sea; Sea, that line hath never sounded, Sea, that voyage hath never rounded, Like Eternity. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MOUSE'S PETITION TO DOCTOR PRIESTLY FOUND IN THE TRAP .. by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE MASTER'S TOUCH by HORATIO (HORATIUS) BONAR THE BUSY HEART by RUPERT BROOKE GREEN RIVER by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE STORMING OF STONY POINT [JULY 16, 1779] by ARTHUR GUITERMAN THE DAUGHTER OF MENDOZA by MIRABEAU BONAPARTE LAMAR |