 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
THE RIVER.
By sloping mountains crowned with gold and azure,
By greenest meadows where the violets be,
By cliffs with many a turret and embrasure,
Rushes the roaring river to the sea.
By greenest meadows where the violets be,
By cliffs with many a turret and embrasure,
Rushes the roaring river to the sea.
Yonder a gilded pinnace, and beside it
A ruder boat, whose look does not agree
With its companion's splendor—good betide it!
Rough though it seem it yet shall reach the sea.
A ruder boat, whose look does not agree
With its companion's splendor—good betide it!
Rough though it seem it yet shall reach the sea.
A poor wretch yonder floats on flags and rushes,
Rifled from yonder swamp; yet full of glee,
Even as he floats, a flood of music gushes
From his bare throat—he too shall reach the sea.
Rifled from yonder swamp; yet full of glee,
Even as he floats, a flood of music gushes
From his bare throat—he too shall reach the sea.
And some on rafts, and some to rough logs clinging,
And some on corks, or bladders, floating free;
Some calmly drift, and some, the water flinging,
Spatter their fellow-travellers to the sea.
And some on corks, or bladders, floating free;
Some calmly drift, and some, the water flinging,
Spatter their fellow-travellers to the sea.
542
My barque is on the river swiftly sailing,
Caught by the current it goes rapidly;
At either side the oars in water trailing,
Stop not my certain voyage to the sea.
Caught by the current it goes rapidly;
At either side the oars in water trailing,
Stop not my certain voyage to the sea.
Around me voyagers who strive to sink me;
Some heed me not, and others friendly be;
I heed not either, care not what they think me;
'Twill matter not when once I reach the sea.
Some heed me not, and others friendly be;
I heed not either, care not what they think me;
'Twill matter not when once I reach the sea.
Roar, rushing river! bear me on your waters,
Past vale and mountain, cliff and mead and tree;
The first and last of Adam's sons and daughters
Must sail this river, and must reach that sea.
Past vale and mountain, cliff and mead and tree;
The first and last of Adam's sons and daughters
Must sail this river, and must reach that sea.
We sail by day—the sun, with grey dawn blending,
Rises when we embark, and soars as we
Sail on, and sinks as we approach our ending,
Then sets forever when we reach the sea.
Rises when we embark, and soars as we
Sail on, and sinks as we approach our ending,
Then sets forever when we reach the sea.
Whither beyond? Shall we forever wander
Upon that ocean? Shall we shipwrecked be,
Or reach some port beyond? In vain to ponder;
None have returned who entered on that sea.
Upon that ocean? Shall we shipwrecked be,
Or reach some port beyond? In vain to ponder;
None have returned who entered on that sea.
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |