Poems, on sacred and other subjects and songs, humorous and sentimental: By the late William Watt. Third edition of the songs only--with additional songs |
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VERSES ON SEEING A Trout in a Small Pool,
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 | Poems, on sacred and other subjects |  |
361
VERSES ON SEEING A Trout in a Small Pool,
IN THE DROUGHT OF SUMMER, 1821.
Swift, timid captive of the stream,
Why start with wild alarm?
Think not that I, to take thy life,
Would bare a plund'ring arm.
Why start with wild alarm?
Think not that I, to take thy life,
Would bare a plund'ring arm.
Base were the wretch, unfit to live,
That could make thee his prey;
'Twere rank extortion, direly wreak'd
On poor necessity.
That could make thee his prey;
'Twere rank extortion, direly wreak'd
On poor necessity.
The savage, who, from fields and floods,
His daily wants supplies,
Is blameless, though, in quest of food,
He banish feeling's ties:
His daily wants supplies,
Is blameless, though, in quest of food,
He banish feeling's ties:
But what excuse can he produce
To salve the ruthless deed,
Who, out of wanton cruelty,
Could make thee hapless bleed!
To salve the ruthless deed,
Who, out of wanton cruelty,
Could make thee hapless bleed!
Oh would it not increase thy fears,
I'd free thee from that shallow;
Then, in the deep wide limpid linn,
Thou'dst glide, swift as the swallow!
I'd free thee from that shallow;
Then, in the deep wide limpid linn,
Thou'dst glide, swift as the swallow!
The sun that now, so fiery hot,
Drinks moisture from the main,
But fills the sky with humid clouds,
To slake the earth with rain.
Drinks moisture from the main,
But fills the sky with humid clouds,
To slake the earth with rain.
Then shalt thou down the foaming stream
From bondage be set free,
To roam at large the swollen floods
In perfect liberty.
From bondage be set free,
To roam at large the swollen floods
In perfect liberty.
| Poems, on sacred and other subjects | |