Composed upon the Thames near Richmond <br /> <br />Glide gently, thus for ever glide, <br />O Thames! that other bards may see <br />As lovely visions by thy side <br />As now, fair river! come to me. <br />O glide, fair stream! for ever so, <br />Thy quiet soul on all bestowing, <br />Till all our minds for ever flow <br />As thy deep waters now are flowing. <br /> <br />Vain thought!--Yet be as now thou art, <br />That in thy waters may be seen <br />The image of a poet's heart, <br />How bright, how solemn, how serene! <br />Such as did once the Poet bless, <br />Who murmuring here a later ditty, <br />Could find no refuge from distress <br />But in the milder grief of pity. <br /> <br />Now let us, as we float along, <br />For 'him' suspend the dashing oar; <br />And pray that never child of song <br />May know that Poet's sorrows more. <br />How calm! how still! the only sound, <br />The dripping of the oar suspended! <br />--The evening darkness gathers round <br />By virtue's holiest Powers attended.<br /><br />William Wordsworth<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/remembrance-of-collins/
