 | The poetical works of Lucy Larcom |  |
MY MERRIMACK.
Dear river, that didst wander through
My childhood's path, a vein of blue,
Freshening the pulses of my youth
Toward glimpsing hope and opening truth,
A heart thank-laden hastens back
To rest by thee, bright Merrimack!
My childhood's path, a vein of blue,
Freshening the pulses of my youth
Toward glimpsing hope and opening truth,
A heart thank-laden hastens back
To rest by thee, bright Merrimack!
From hills with sunlit mists aflame,
Down over rocky rapids came,
Breaking in wonder on my sight,
The living water, glad as light.
A child, strayed inland from the sea,
The Merrimack adopted me.
Down over rocky rapids came,
Breaking in wonder on my sight,
The living water, glad as light.
A child, strayed inland from the sea,
The Merrimack adopted me.
Hemlock and pine inwove their spell
Around my thoughts; the forest smell
Of moss and fern was incense sweet;
A miracle that stayed my feet,
A blossom-revelation new,
Sprang from thy side, the harebell blue!
Around my thoughts; the forest smell
Of moss and fern was incense sweet;
A miracle that stayed my feet,
A blossom-revelation new,
Sprang from thy side, the harebell blue!
Days thickened with the dust of toil;
My paradise could no man spoil.
A presence by my window played;
A dimpling, glancing light and shade:
Whatever sweetness found an end,
The river was my constant friend.
My paradise could no man spoil.
A presence by my window played;
A dimpling, glancing light and shade:
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The river was my constant friend.
Though dew from the Franconia hills
Into thy crystal cup distills;
Though Winnepesaukee's ripples bright
And Pemigewasset's placid light,
Music of waterfall and brook,
Are in thy voice and in thy look:
Into thy crystal cup distills;
Though Winnepesaukee's ripples bright
And Pemigewasset's placid light,
Music of waterfall and brook,
Are in thy voice and in thy look:
Dearer companionship than thine,
Friends who have made earth half divine,
Voices that blend with thy wild birds
And woodland flower their loving words,—
Heart-shelter that is holy ground,
Beside thy waters have I found.
Friends who have made earth half divine,
Voices that blend with thy wild birds
And woodland flower their loving words,—
Heart-shelter that is holy ground,
Beside thy waters have I found.
River of inspirations sweet,
Wash off the dust from weary feet!
Where shuttles clash and spindles whirl,
Sing to the homesick working-girl
In cheerful undertones, and lift
Her thoughts along thy current swift!
Wash off the dust from weary feet!
Where shuttles clash and spindles whirl,
Sing to the homesick working-girl
In cheerful undertones, and lift
Her thoughts along thy current swift!
The joy that thou hast been to me,
To all thy bordering toilers be!
Broaden in friendship, bloom with friends,
Until thy mountain freshness spends
Itself adown thy seaward track,
My beautiful blue Merrimack!
To all thy bordering toilers be!
Broaden in friendship, bloom with friends,
Until thy mountain freshness spends
Itself adown thy seaward track,
My beautiful blue Merrimack!
| The poetical works of Lucy Larcom | |