 | Orta-undis, and other poems |  |
82
THE RISING OF THE RIVER.
While yestereve, still dark and drear
With driving clouds the heavens were;
And strong and fast
The river through the arches past;
With driving clouds the heavens were;
And strong and fast
The river through the arches past;
I crossed the quaking bridge alone,
Against whose pediments of stone
The surging tide
Swept trunks with arms distended wide.
Against whose pediments of stone
The surging tide
Swept trunks with arms distended wide.
With waters flowing broad and red,
The level lands were overspread;
Their early bloom
All withered in a common tomb.
The level lands were overspread;
Their early bloom
All withered in a common tomb.
83
The path so often trod of yore
No longer traced along the shore,
Before my eyes
The gloomy stream, the murky skies.
No longer traced along the shore,
Before my eyes
The gloomy stream, the murky skies.
Oh heart, (I groaned) in such a sea,
Were truth and honor swept from thee,
Which should have been
As rooted forests, firm and green.
Were truth and honor swept from thee,
Which should have been
As rooted forests, firm and green.
The flowers in my breast were drowned
By overwhelming passion;—found
My feet no more
A peaceful path along the shore.
By overwhelming passion;—found
My feet no more
A peaceful path along the shore.
But over rising sins and woes,
Alike, the simple arches rose
Of faith in God,
So that from shore to shore I trod.
Alike, the simple arches rose
Of faith in God,
So that from shore to shore I trod.
84
And when, oh Love, serene and fair
The heavens are, and reäppear
On every lea,
The fragrant bloom, the steadfast tree;
The heavens are, and reäppear
On every lea,
The fragrant bloom, the steadfast tree;
Then richer for these beating rains
When harvest comes, in golden grains
That heart will be,
That trusted in its God and thee.
When harvest comes, in golden grains
That heart will be,
That trusted in its God and thee.
1847.
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