LIKE a tree beside the river Of her life that runs from me, Do I lean me, murmuring ever In my love's idolatry. Lo, I reach out hands of blessing; Lo, I stretch out hands of prayer; And, with passionate caressing, Pour my life upon the air, In my ears the siren river Sings, and smiles up in my face; But forever, and forever, Runs from my embrace. Spring by spring, the branches duly Clothe themselves in tender flower; And for her sweet sake as truly All their fruit and fragrance shower. But the stream, with careless laughter, Runs in merry beauty by, And it leaves me yearning after, Lorn to droop and lone to die. In my ears the siren river Sings, and smiles up in my face; But forever, and forever, Runs from my embrace. I stand mazèd in the moonlight, O'er its happy face to dream; I am parchèd in the moonlight By that cool and brimming stream; I am dying by the river Of her life that runs from me, And it sparkles by me ever, With its cool felicity. In my ears the siren river Sings, and smiles up in my face; But forever, and forever, Runs from my embrace. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SEVEN TWILIGHTS: 5 by CONRAD AIKEN LETTER TO JOSEPH WARREN by ROBERT FROST INEVITABLY (2) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON JOY (2) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON REPULSE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON |