Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
America: Vols. XXV–XXIX. 1876–79. | | | | Middle States: Saranac, the Lakes, N. Y. | | The Lower Saranac | | Alfred Billings Street (1811–1881) |
| | | LIGHTLY flies my fleet bark across the glittering water, | |
| Sweetly talk the ripples before the furrowing prow, | |
| Mellow streams the sunset within the skirting forest, | |
| Mellow melts the west-wind in kisses on my brow. | |
| |
| Oh, this life is glorious, this life within the wildwood! | 5 |
| Far, oh, far away flee the troubles of our lot! | |
| Wide expands the bosom, a boyish heart is dancing, | |
| Dancing with the gladness o’erflowing every spot! | |
| |
| Dreamy like the past stands the distant blue Tahawhus; | |
| Gleamy like the present old Moosehead rears his crest; | 10 |
| Filmy like the future in front the bowery island; | |
| Sparkling like our wishes the water’s ripply breast. | |
| |
| Look, a wandering snowflake, the white gull in the distance! | |
| Indian pink on pinions, the redbird’s darting glow! | |
| Upward leaps the trout, and afar the loon is floating, | 15 |
| Dotting dark the sun-gleam, then flashing bright below. | |
| |
| Turn the buoyant bark through the elm’s cathedral archway! | |
| Nestles cool the cove filled with babble of the brook, | |
| Sunny specks, and spice from the lily’s pearly scallops; | |
| So from glare of life hides some sweet domestic nook. | 20 |
| |
| Onward then again, for the sunset now has kindled | |
| Higher his grand camp-fire, and shines our tent before! | |
| Crimson clouds are painting the purpled lake’s enamel, | |
| Golden gauzes gleam in the glades along the shore. | |
| |
| Onward, onward, thus do we press upon our journey, | 25 |
| Moved by restless longing, Heaven calling us away; | |
| Oh, may fading life be illumined like the sunset, | |
| Beaming brighter, brighter, till darkness veils the day! | | | | |
|
|
