Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BROOK THAT RUNS TO FRANCE, by JOHN CLAIR MINOT



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BROOK THAT RUNS TO FRANCE, by                    
First Line: The brook that threads the meadow
Last Line: Three thousand miles, and more!
Subject(s): Brooks; Streams; Creeks


The brook that threads the meadow
Was rippling in the sun,
And close beside it in their play
I saw the children run.

"Where goes the brook, my brother?"
The little maiden cried.
"It seeks the river first," he said,
"And then the ocean wide."

"And when it finds the ocean,
Where do its waters go?"
"To distant shores and round the world,
Wherever tides may flow."

The little maiden pondered:
"Oh, is there any chance
Our little brook will cross the sea,
And touch the shores of France?"

"Who knows?" the brother answered.
"The waters travel far;
It may be that our brook will flow
To where the battles are."

Then spake the little maiden:
"Upon Memorial Day
We love to gather all the flowers
That blossom in the May;

"We take them to the churchyard,
And place them there above
The graves of gallant men who fought
Beneath the flag we love.

"I have a plan, my brother" --
Her bright eyes met his glance:
"We'll ask the brook to bear our flowers
To those who are in France!"

They gathered from the hillside
The purple lilac spray;
They plucked the little violets
That grew beside the way.

And then into the waters
They cast them one by one --
The waters of the meadow brook
That sparkled in the sun.

"Oh, take the flowers we offer,"
I heard the children say,
"And bear them with our love to France,
Three thousand miles away!"

The brook went rippling onward,
The blossoms on its tide,
To seek afar the river first
And then the ocean wide.

I know not where the waters
The love-sent blossoms bore;
But this I know -- their fragrance spread
Three thousand miles, and more!





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