On the Bluff. John Hay (1838-1905). Western States: Mississippi, the River. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. 1876-79. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes. America: Vols. XXV-XXIX

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
America: Vols. XXV–XXIX. 1876–79.

Western States: Mississippi, the River

On the Bluff

John Hay (1838–1905)


O GRANDLY flowing river!
O silver-gliding river!
Thy springing willows shiver
In the sunset as of old;
They shiver in the silence	5
Of the willow-whitened islands,
While the sun-bars and the sand-bars
Fill air and wave with gold.

O gay, oblivious river!
O sunset-kindled river!	10
Do you remember ever
The eyes and skies so blue
On a summer day that shone here,
When we were all alone here,
And the blue eyes were too wise	15
To speak the love they knew?

O stern impassive river!
O still unanswering river!
The shivering willows quiver
As the night-winds moan and rave.	20
From the past a voice is calling,
From heaven a star is falling,
And dew swells in the bluebells
Above her hillside grave.