Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SALMON RIVER, by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD Poet's Biography First Line: Tis a sweet stream; and so, 'tis true, are all Last Line: I'll try to prove. Subject(s): Salmon River, New Hampshire | ||||||||
'T IS a sweet stream, -- and so, 't is true, are all That, undisturbed, save by the harmless brawl Of mimic rapid or slight waterfall, Pursue their way By mossy bank, and darkly waving wood, By rock, that since the deluge fixed has stood, Showing to sun and moon their crisping flood By night and day. But yet there's something in its humble rank, Something in its pure wave and sloping bank, Where the deer sported, and the young fawn drank With unscared look; There's much in its wild history, that teems With all that's superstitious, -- and that seems To match our fancy and eke out our dreams, In that small brook. Havoc has been upon its peaceful plain, And blood has dropped there, like the drops of rain; The corn grows o'er the still graves of the slain, -- And many a quiver, Filled from the reeds that grew on yonder hill, Has spent itself in carnage. Now 't is still, And whistling ploughboys oft their runlets fill From Salmon River. Here, say old men, the Indian magi made Their spells by moonlight; or beneath the shade That shrouds sequestered rock, or darkening glade, Or tangled dell. Here Philip came, and Miantonimo, And asked about their fortunes long ago, As Saul to Endor, that her witch might show Old Samuel. And here the black fox roved, that howled and shook His thick tail to the hunters, by the brook Where they pursued their game, and him mistook For earthly fox; Thinking to shoot him like a shaggy bear, And his soft peltry, stripped and dressed, to wear, Or lay a trap, and from his quiet lair Transfer him to a box. Such are the tales they tell. 'T is hard to rhyme About a little and unnoticed stream, That few have heard of, -- but it is a theme I chance to love; And one day I may tune my rye-straw reed, And whistle to the note of many a deed Done on this river, -- which, if there be need, I'll try to prove. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A MARINER'S SONG by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD A RAINY DAY by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD AN EVENING CLOUD by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD AN INVOCATION by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD CHARITY by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD COLONIZATION OF AFRICA by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD DEPARTURE OF THE PIONEER by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD DIRGE ON THE DEATH OF ADAMS AND JEFFERSON by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD EPISTLE FROM ONE ABSENT EDITOR TO ANOTHER by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD EXTRACTS FROM NEW-YEAR'S VERSES FOR 1825 by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD EXTRACTS FROM VERSES WRITTEN FOR THE NEW YEAR, 1823 by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD FORT GRISWOLD, SEPT. 6, 1781 by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD |
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