Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/Life Compared to a River
Life Compared to a River.
River, river, little river,
Bright you sparkle on your way,
O'er the yellow pebbles dancing,
Through the flowers and foliage glancing,
Like a child at play.
Bright you sparkle on your way,
O'er the yellow pebbles dancing,
Through the flowers and foliage glancing,
Like a child at play.
River, river, swelling river,
On you rush, o'er rough and smooth,
Louder, faster, brawling, leaping
Over rocks, by rose-banks sweeping
Like impetuous youth.
On you rush, o'er rough and smooth,
Louder, faster, brawling, leaping
Over rocks, by rose-banks sweeping
Like impetuous youth.
River, river, brimming river,
Broad and deep, and still as Time;
Seeming still—yet still in motion,
Tending onward to the ocean,
Just like mortal prime.
Broad and deep, and still as Time;
Seeming still—yet still in motion,
Tending onward to the ocean,
Just like mortal prime.
River, river, rapid river!
Swifter now you slip away;
Swift and silent as an arrow;
Through a channel dark and narrow,
Like life's closing day.
Swifter now you slip away;
Swift and silent as an arrow;
Through a channel dark and narrow,
Like life's closing day.
River, river, headlong river,
Down you dash into the sea;
Sea that line hath never sounded,
Sea that voyage hath never rounded,
Like eternity.
Down you dash into the sea;
Sea that line hath never sounded,
Sea that voyage hath never rounded,
Like eternity.