WHAT saith the river to the rushes grey, Rushes sadly bending, River slowly wending? Who can tell the whisper'd things they say? Youth, and prime, and life, and time, For ever, ever fled away! Drop your wither'd garlands in the stream, Low autumnal branches, Round the skiff that launches Wavering downward through the lands of dream. Ever, ever fled away! This the burden, this the theme. What saith the river to the rushes grey, Rushes sadly bending, River slowly wending? It is near the closing of the day. Near the night. Life and light For ever, ever fled away! Draw him tideward down; but not in haste. Mouldering daylight lingers; Night with her cold fingers Sprinkles moonbeams on the dim sea-waste. Ever, ever fled away! Vainly cherish'd! vainly chased! What saith the river to the rushes grey, Rushes sadly bending, River slowly wending? Where in darkest glooms his bed we lay, Up the cave moans the wave, For ever, ever, ever fled away! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPRING, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE THE VANITY OF HUMAN WISHES; THE 10TH SATIRE OF JUVENAL, IMITATED by SAMUEL JOHNSON (1709-1784) THE ORCHARD PIT by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI LEE TO THE REAR [MAY 12, 1864] by JOHN REUBEN THOMPSON A SOCIETY MARTYR by JOHN CLINTON ANTHONY AFTER THE PLAY by HAMILTON FISH ARMSTRONG |