Love and Hope and Youth, together-- <br />Travelling once in stormy weather, <br />Met a deep and gloomy tide, <br />Flowing swift and dark and wide. <br />'Twas named the river of Despair,-- <br />And many a wreck was floating there! <br />The urchins paused, with faces grave, <br />Debating how to cross the wave, <br />When lo! the curtain of the storm <br />Was severed, and the rainbow's form <br />Stood against the parting cloud-- <br />Emblem of peace on trouble's shroud! <br />Hope pointed to the signal flying, <br />And the three, their shoulders plying, <br />O'er the stream the light arch threw-- <br />A rainbow bridge of loveliest hue! <br />Now, laughing as they tripped it o'er, <br />They gayly sought the other shore: <br />But soon the hills began to frown, <br />And the bright sun went darkly down. <br />Though their step was light and fleet, <br />The rainbow vanished 'neath their feet,-- <br />And down they went,--the giddy things! <br />But Hope put forth his ready wings,-- <br />And clinging Love and Youth he bore <br />In triumph to the other shore. <br />But ne'er I ween should mortals deem <br />On rainbow bridge to cross a stream, <br />Unless bright, buoyant Hope is nigh, <br />And, light with Love and Youth, they fly!<br /><br />Samuel Griswold Goodrich<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-rainbow-bridge-4/
