Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, INSCRIPTION FOR THE BANKS OF THE HAMPSHIRE AVON, by ROBERT SOUTHEY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

INSCRIPTION FOR THE BANKS OF THE HAMPSHIRE AVON, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: A little while, o traveller! Linger here
Last Line: Flow to the ocean of eternity.
Subject(s): Avon (river), England; Future Life; Life; Rivers; Travel; Retribution; Eternity; After Life; Journeys; Trips


A LITTLE while, O traveller! linger here,
And let thy leisure eye behold and feel
The beauties of the place; yon heathy hill
That rises sudden from the vale so green,
The vale far stretching as the view can reach
Under its long dark ridge, the river here
That, like a serpent, through the grassy mead
Winds on, now hidden, glittering now in light.
Nor fraught with merchant wealth, nor famed in song,
This river rolls; an unobtrusive tide,
Its gentle charms may soothe and satisfy
Thy feelings. Look! how bright its pebbled bed
Gleams through the ruffled current; and that bank
With flag-leaves bordered, as with two-edged swords!
See where the water wrinkles round the stem
Of yonder water lily, whose broad leaf
Lies on the wave,—and art thou not refresh'd
By the fresh odour of the running stream?
Soon, traveller! does the river reach the end
Of all its windings; from the near ascent
Thou wilt behold the ocean, where it pours
Its waters and is lost. Remember thou,
Traveller! that even so thy restless years
Flow to the ocean of eternity.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net