Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE RIVER, by MATTHEW ARNOLD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE RIVER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Still glides the stream, slow drops the boat
Last Line: And dead to hopes of future joy.
Subject(s): Grief; Rivers; Sorrow; Sadness


STILL glides the stream, slow drops the boat
Under the rustling poplars' shade;
Silent the swans beside us float:
None speaks, none heeds--ah, turn thy head.

Let those arch eyes now softly shine,
That mocking mouth grow sweetly bland:
Ah, let them rest, those eyes, on mine;
On mine let rest that lovely hand.

My pent-up tears oppress my brain,
My heart is swoln with love unsaid:
Ah, let me weep, and tell my pain,
And on thy shoulder rest my head.

Before I die, before the soul,
Which now is mine, must re-attain
Immunity from my control,
And wander round the world again:

Before this teas'd o'erlabour'd heart
For ever leaves its vain employ,
Dead to its deep habitual smart,
And dead to hopes of future joy.





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