Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GREENWOOD LAKE, by ISAAC MCLELLAN JR.


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GREENWOOD LAKE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Gaze forth where herbert loved to gaze
Last Line: Reflecting the o'erhanging wood.
Subject(s): Lakes; Pools; Ponds


Gaze forth where Herbert loved to gaze,
Far to the horizon's purple edge,
Here swimming in a gauzy haze,
There bright with splintered cliff and ledge.
It is a vision beautiful --
A dream of wonder and delight,
Where ridge on ridge of mountain peaks
Gleam out, then fade away from sight.
Beneath sleeps Greenwood's placid lake,
Woods, meadow, pasture, stream, and plain,
White villages like sea-bird wings,
Broad corn-fields and expanse of grain;
Fair scenes so dear to poet's heart,
Dear to the painter's glorious art.

Gaze and admire! Far off to right
Swell highland Hudson's azure hills.
Famed Anthony uplifts his bluff,
Channel'd and seamed with dashing rills.
Across yon rocky-cradled vale
Soars Shawangunk's mountainous ridge;
High, high in air those summits sail,
The Kaatskill's forest bridge!
"And ne'er in life," wrote Herbert's pen,
"Have I such lovely landscape viewed;"
The pure lake cradled in the glen,
Reflecting the o'erhanging wood.





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