Poems (Hooper)/Gretchen

by Lucy Hamilton Hooper

GRETCHEN.

I sat beside the river,
 My baby on my knee;
The waters rushed, the waters roared,
   Woe is me!

I looked upon my baby,
 And shame looked up at me.
The night was dark, the stream was deep,
   Woe is me!

I sat beside the river,
 No baby on my knee;
The waters rushed, the waters roared,
   Woe is me!

A cry came from the river,
 There were no stars to see.
I turned and fled and ne'er looked Back,
   Woe is me!

And now my fame is spotless,
 Men call me fair to see.
I would the river were my grave,
   Woe is me!