THE stream of life from fountains flows, Conceal'd by sacred woods and caves: From crag to dell uncheck'd it goes, And, hurrying fast from where it rose, In foam and flash exulting raves. But straight below the torrent's leap, Serenely bright its effluence lies, And waves that thunder'd down the steep Are hush'd in quiet, mute and deep, Reflecting rock, and trees, and skies. And mid the pool, disturb'd yet clear, The noisy gush that feeds it still Is seen again descending sheer, A cataract within the mere, As bright as down the hill. A living picture, smooth and true, Of headlong fight and restless power, Whose burst for ever feeds anew The lake of fresh and silver dew That paints and drinks the stormy shower. So Thought, with crystal mirror, shows Our human joy, and strife, and pain; And ghostly dreams, and passion's woes, The tide of failures, hates, and foes, Are softly figured there again. Do Thou, who pourest forth our days, With all their floods of life divine, Bestow thy Spirit's peaceful gaze, To still the surge those tumults raise, And make thy calm of being mine! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WHY I AM A LIBERAL by ROBERT BROWNING VOICES OF THE NIGHT: PRELUDE by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW MODERN LOVE: 34 by GEORGE MEREDITH THE PRETTY MILKMAID by MOTHER GOOSE COLORED HEROES, HARK THE BUGLE; POLITICAL by ROBERT CHARLES O'HARA BENJAMIN EASTER by CHARLOTTE LOUISE BERTLESEN NOR CARE TOO MUCH by MARY E. BUFFINTON |