My feet shall tread no more thy mossy side, <br />When once they turn away, thou Pleasant Water, <br />Nor ever more, reflected in thy tide, <br />Will shine the eyes of the White Island's daughter. <br />But often in my dreams, when I am gone <br />Beyond the sea that parts thy home and mine, <br />Upon thy banks the evening sun will shine, <br />And I shall hear thy low, still flowing on. <br />And when the burthen of existence lies <br />Upon my soul, darkly and heavily, <br />I'll clasp my hands over my weary eyes, <br />Thou Pleasant Water, and thy clear waves see. <br />Bright be thy course for ever and for ever, <br />Child of pure mountain springs, and mountain snow; <br />And as thou wanderest on to meet the river, <br />Oh, still in light and music mayst thou flow! <br />I never shall come back to thee again, <br />When once my sail is shadowed on the main, <br />Nor ever shall I hear thy laughing voice <br />As on their rippling way thy waves rejoice, <br />Nor ever see the dark green cedar throw <br />Its gloomy shade o'er the clear depths below, <br /> <br />Never, from stony rifts of granite gray, <br />Sparkling like diamond rocks in the sun's ray, <br />Shall I look down on thee, thou pleasant stream, <br />Beneath whose crystal folds the gold sands gleam; <br />Wherefore, farewell! but whensoe'er again <br />The wintry spell melts from the earth and air; <br />And the young spring comes dancing through thy glen, <br />With fragrant, flowery breath, and sunny hair; <br />When through the snow the scarlet berries gleam, <br />Like jewels strewn upon thy banks, fair stream, <br />My spirit shall through many a summer's day <br />Return, among thy peaceful woods to stray.<br /><br />Frances Anne Kemble<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-the-wissahiccon/
