 | Forest buds, from the woods of Maine |  |
17
BY THE RIVER-SIDE.
Down by the river-side sat I alone,
Hearing the waters' low musical moan,
Waiting the while for a tarrying boat,—
Hark, to the mariner's echoing note!
Hearing the waters' low musical moan,
Waiting the while for a tarrying boat,—
Hark, to the mariner's echoing note!
Fair was the boatman as eye may behold,
How the breeze lifted his tresses of gold!
While o'er his shoulders so dimpled and white
Lay his soft wings, half unfolded for flight.
How the breeze lifted his tresses of gold!
While o'er his shoulders so dimpled and white
Lay his soft wings, half unfolded for flight.
Smoothly the shining waves bore him along,
And, at each pause in his magical song,
Lightly he leaned from the boat's dipping side,
Pulling the lilies afloat on the tide.
And, at each pause in his magical song,
Lightly he leaned from the boat's dipping side,
Pulling the lilies afloat on the tide.
Gazing I stood on the wave-beaten shore,
Counting by heart-throbs the sweeps of his oar,—
Murmuring, “Boatman, come hither to me,
I would float over the waters with thee!”
Counting by heart-throbs the sweeps of his oar,—
Murmuring, “Boatman, come hither to me,
I would float over the waters with thee!”
18
Upright he sprang as he heard my low call,
Quickly the buds from his fingers let fall,
And with a motion obedient and fleet,
Softly the boat glided up to my feet.
Quickly the buds from his fingers let fall,
And with a motion obedient and fleet,
Softly the boat glided up to my feet.
Lightly I swung from an o'er-sweeping vine,
Half-clasped the fingers extended to mine,
When with light laughter, eluding my hand,
Pushed he the shallop away from the land,
Half-clasped the fingers extended to mine,
When with light laughter, eluding my hand,
Pushed he the shallop away from the land,
And, with a sweep of the fairy-like oar,
Floated away by the opposite shore,—
While his sweet voice floated back on the wind,
“Have ye heard never the boatman is blind?”
Floated away by the opposite shore,—
While his sweet voice floated back on the wind,
“Have ye heard never the boatman is blind?”
Down the bright stream, like a vision of light,
Glided the boatman with wings gleaming white,
And as away sped the fair little craft,
Heard ye how gaily the mariner laughed?
Glided the boatman with wings gleaming white,
And as away sped the fair little craft,
Heard ye how gaily the mariner laughed?
Lonely and sad on the shore I sat down,
Twisting the willow leaves into a crown,
Catching at times the sweet chorus of joy
Borne from the lips of the beautiful boy.
Twisting the willow leaves into a crown,
Catching at times the sweet chorus of joy
Borne from the lips of the beautiful boy.
Thus do I wait on life's wave-beaten beach,
Longing for blessings I never may reach,—
Seeing all gladsome and beautiful things
Pass from my gaze, like the gleam of his wings.
Longing for blessings I never may reach,—
Seeing all gladsome and beautiful things
Pass from my gaze, like the gleam of his wings.
19
Vanished forever! yet deep in my heart
Still of his presence there lingers a part,
For as his bark idly floated along,
Learned I the notes of his wildering song.
Still of his presence there lingers a part,
For as his bark idly floated along,
Learned I the notes of his wildering song.
Pass on, bright visions, and vanish from sight,
Tearless I gaze, for I mourn not your flight,—
Though on the shore I wait lonely and long,
If I may cheat the dull moments with song!
Tearless I gaze, for I mourn not your flight,—
Though on the shore I wait lonely and long,
If I may cheat the dull moments with song!
| Forest buds, from the woods of Maine | |