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Sailing on Cakes of Ice in the North River
The thick ice breaks, it floats away,
It sails towards the sea;
No longer on the shore 'twill stay,
Spring's breath has set it free.
It sails towards the sea;
No longer on the shore 'twill stay,
Spring's breath has set it free.
For three long months, beneath, the tide
Has daily ebbed and flowed;
While fixed its frozen surface wide
Nor life nor motion showed.
Has daily ebbed and flowed;
While fixed its frozen surface wide
Nor life nor motion showed.
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Now all is changed! the river's face
Reflects the azure sky;
In fleets the cakes each other chase
To ocean hurrying by.
Reflects the azure sky;
In fleets the cakes each other chase
To ocean hurrying by.
Methinks I see on many a cake
My schoolmates boldly sail;
Swiftly, or slow, their course they take,
As winds or calms prevail.
My schoolmates boldly sail;
Swiftly, or slow, their course they take,
As winds or calms prevail.
With various fates they onward steer,
Some stranded, broken, lost;
Some down the stream are sailing clear,
Some in mid current tost.
Some stranded, broken, lost;
Some down the stream are sailing clear,
Some in mid current tost.
The merry laugh, the shout, the name,
Still echo from the shore;
All for a moment seems the same,
As long, long years before.
Still echo from the shore;
All for a moment seems the same,
As long, long years before.
The scene my fancy doth recall,
With pleasing, fresh delight;
A picture hung in memory's hall,
Forever fair and bright.
With pleasing, fresh delight;
A picture hung in memory's hall,
Forever fair and bright.
Poem No. 583; c. 8 April 1875
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