IN calm and tempest, in shine and shade, On a faultless emerald lawn, A marble fountain for ever played, From dawn unto magic dawn. No rainbow'd bliss had the fountain lacked, And its gaiety nought could mar, Till it heard the Voice of the Cataract In an Alpine gorge afar. "With thunder of battle, in glory and gloom, I have torn," said the torrent, "my way." And the fountain murmured, "My cruel doom Is to play -- and play -- and play." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NATURA NATURANS by ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH THE BOHEMIAN HYMN by RALPH WALDO EMERSON THE HIGHWAYMAN by ALFRED NOYES A LEGEND OF BREGENZ by ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER EMBLEMS OF LOVE: CUPID TO CHLOE WEEPING; A SONNET by PHILIP AYRES THE SONG OF HER by WILLIAM ROSE BENET THE GOLDEN ODES OF PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA: TARAFA by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT TO BETTINE; THE CHILD-FRIEND OF GOETHE by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |