Thou Royal River, born of sun and shower <br />In chambers purple with the Alpine glow, <br />Wrapped in the spotless ermine of the snow <br />And rocked by tempests!--at the appointed hour <br />Forth, like a steel-clad horseman from a tower, <br />With clang and clink of harness dost thou go <br />To meet thy vassal torrents, that below <br />Rush to receive thee and obey thy power. <br />And now thou movest in triumphal march, <br />A king among the rivers! On thy way <br />A hundred towns await and welcome thee; <br />Bridges uplift for thee the stately arch, <br />Vineyards encircle thee with garlands gay, <br />And fleets attend thy progress to the sea!<br /><br />Henry Wadsworth Longfellow<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-the-river-rhone/
