FOUNT of a rushing river! wild-flowers wreathe | |
| The home where thy first waters sunlight claim: | |
| The lark sits hushed beside thee, while I breathe, | |
| Sweet Tamar Spring! the music of thy name. | |
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| On through thy goodly channel, on to the sea! | 5 |
| Pass amid heathery vale, tall rock, fair bough; | |
| But nevermore with footstep pure and free, | |
| Or face so meek with happiness as now. | |
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| Fair is the future scenery of thy days, | |
| Thy course domestic, and thy paths of pride: | 10 |
| Depths that give back the soft-eyed violets’ gaze, | |
| Shores where tall navies march to meet the tide. | |
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| Thine, leafy Tetcott, and those neighboring walls, | |
| Noble Northumberland’s embowered domain; | |
| Thine, Cartha Martha, Morwell’s rocky falls, | 15 |
| Storied Cotehele, and Ocean’s loveliest plain. | |
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| Yet false the vision, and untrue the dream, | |
| That lures thee from thy native wilds to stray: | |
| A thousand griefs will mingle with that stream, | |
| Unnumbered hearts shall sigh those waves away. | 20 |
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| Scenes fierce with men thy seaward current laves, | |
| Harsh multitudes will throng thy gentle brink; | |
| Back with the grieving concourse of thy waves, | |
| Home to the waters of thy childhood shrink. | |
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| Thou heedest not! thy dream is of the shore, | 25 |
| Thy heart is quick with life; on to the sea! | |
| How will the voice of thy far streams implore, | |
| Again amid these peaceful weeds to be! | |
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| My soul! my soul! a happier choice be thine, | |
| Thine the hushed valley and the lonely sod; | 30 |
| False dream, far vision, hollow hope resign, | |
| Fast by our Tamar Spring, alone with God! | |
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