 | Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy |  |
8
TO THE RIVER REUSS
LUCERNE
Here at the Wäage, as I sit and dream,
The Reuss goes rustling on toward the weir,
And in its voice sweet echoes I can hear,
Of glaciers where the ice-king's treasures gleam,
Of Alpine pasture and of Alpine stream,
Of barren heights that brought the climber cheer,
Of the green levels of the magic mere,
Where white clouds swim and mountains double seem.
The Reuss goes rustling on toward the weir,
And in its voice sweet echoes I can hear,
Of glaciers where the ice-king's treasures gleam,
Of Alpine pasture and of Alpine stream,
Of barren heights that brought the climber cheer,
Of the green levels of the magic mere,
Where white clouds swim and mountains double seem.
But most, thou garrulous river, still thy tale
Speaks of fair villages, of happy men—
Fluelen, Brunnen, Weggis—touched and passed,
Of cool about the prow, of sunny sail,
By verdurous cape and shadowy forest-glen,
That brings the wanderer home to rest at last.
Speaks of fair villages, of happy men—
Fluelen, Brunnen, Weggis—touched and passed,
Of cool about the prow, of sunny sail,
By verdurous cape and shadowy forest-glen,
That brings the wanderer home to rest at last.
| Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy | |