The Housatonic At

Contented river! In thy dreamy realm

The cloudy willow and the plumy elm:

Thou beautiful!

From ev'ry dreamy hill

What eye but wanders with thee at thy will

Contented river!

And yet over-shy

To mask thy beauty from the eager eye;

Hast thou a thought to hide from field and town?

In some deep current of the sunlit brown

Ah! there's a restive ripple

And the swift red leaves

September's firstlings faster drift;

Wouldst thou away, dear stream?

Come, whisper near!

I also of much resting have a fear:

Let me tomorrow thy companion be

By fall and shallow to the adventurous sea!