| Jessie B. Rittenhouse, ed. (1869–1948). The Second Book of Modern Verse. 1922. |
| |
| The Water Ouzel |
| | | Harriet Monroe (1860–1936) |
| |
| |
| LITTLE brown surf-bather of the mountains! | |
| Spirit of foam, lover of cataracts, shaking your wings in falling waters! | |
| Have you no fear of the roar and rush when Nevada plunges— | |
| Nevada, the shapely dancer, feeling her way with slim white fingers? | |
| How dare you dash at Yosemite the mighty— | 5 |
| Tall, white limbed Yosemite, leaping down, down over the cliff? | |
| Is it not enough to lean on the blue air of mountains? | |
| Is it not enough to rest with your mate at timberline, in bushes that hug the rocks? | |
| Must you fly through mad waters where the heaped-up granite breaks them? | |
| Must you batter your wings in the torrent? | 10 |
| Must you plunge for life and death through the foam? | |
| |
|
|
|
