Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79. | | | | Avon, the River | | The Avon | | William Wordsworth (1770–1850) |
| | A Feeder of the Annan
AVON,—a precious, an immortal name! | |
| Yet is it one that other rivulets bear | |
| Like this unheard of, and their channels wear | |
| Like this contented, though unknown to fame: | |
| For great and sacred is the modest claim | 5 |
| Of streams to Nature’s love, where’er they flow; | |
| And ne’er did Genius slight them, as they go, | |
| Tree, flower, and green herb, feeding without blame. | |
| But Praise can waste her voice on work of tears, | |
| Anguish, and death: full oft, where innocent blood | 10 |
| Has mixed its current with the limpid flood, | |
| Her heaven-offending trophies Glory rears: | |
| Never for like distinction may the good | |
| Shrink from thy name, pure rill, with unpleased ears. | | | | |
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