Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
America: Vols. XXV–XXIX. 1876–79. | | | | Middle States: Trenton Falls, N. Y. | | Written at Trenton Falls | | Frances Anne Kemble (1809–1893) |
| | | COME down! from where the everlasting hills | |
| Open their rocky gates to let thee pass, | |
| Child of a thousand rapid running rills, | |
| And still lakes, where the skies their beauty glass. | |
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| With thy dark eyes, white feet, and amber hair, | 5 |
| Of heaven and earth thou fair and fearful daughter, | |
| Through thy wide halls, and down thy echoing stair, | |
| Rejoicing come,—thou lovely “Leaping Water!” | |
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| Shout! till the woods beneath their vaults of green | |
| Resound, and shake their pillars on thy way; | 10 |
| Fling wide thy glittering fringe of silver sheen, | |
| And toss towards heaven thy clouds of dazzling spray. | |
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| The sun looks down upon thee with delight, | |
| And weaves his prism around thee for a belt; | |
| And as the wind waves thy thin robes of light, | 15 |
| The jewels of thy girdle glow and melt. | |
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| Ah! where be they, who first with human eyes | |
| Beheld thy glory, thou triumphant flood! | |
| And through the forest heard with glad surprise | |
| Thy waters calling like the voice of God? | 20 |
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| Far towards the setting sun wandering they go, | |
| Poor remnant! left from exile and from slaughter, | |
| But still their memory, mingling with thy flow, | |
| Lives in thy name,—thou lovely “Leaping Water.” | | | | |
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