BETWEEN Holmscote and Hurstcote <br />The river-reaches wind, <br />The whispering trees accept the breeze, <br />The ripple's cool and kind; <br />With love low-whispered 'twixt the shores, <br />With rippling laughters gay, <br />With white arms bared to ply the oars, <br />On last year's first of May. <br />Between Holmscote and Hurstcote <br />The river's brimmed with rain, <br />Through close-met banks and parted banks <br />Now near, now far again: <br />With parting tears caressed to smiles, <br />With meeting promised soon, <br />With every sweet vow that beguiles, <br />On last year's first of June. <br />Between Holmscote and Hurstcote <br />The river's flecked with foam, <br />'Neath shuddering clouds that hang in shrouds <br />And lost winds wild for home: <br />With infant wailings at the breast, <br />With homeless steps astray, <br />With wanderings shuddering tow'rds one rest <br />On this year's first of May. <br />Between Holmscote and Hurstcote <br />The summer river flows <br />With doubled flight of moons by night <br />And lilies' deep repose: <br />With lo! beneath the moon's white stare <br />A white face not the moon, <br />With lilies meshed in tangled hair, <br />On this year's first of June. <br />Between Holmscote and Hurstcote <br />A troth was given and riven, <br />From heart's trust grew one life to two, <br />Two lost lives cry to Heaven: <br />With banks spread calm to meet the sky, <br />With meadows newly mowed, <br />The harvest-paths of glad July, <br />The sweet school-children's road.<br /><br />Dante Gabriel Rossetti<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/down-stream-2/
