Poems (Larcom)/Rock and Rill
ROCK AND RILL.
"INTO the sunshine out of shade!"
The rill has heard the call,
And, babbling low, her answer made,—
A laugh, 'twixt slip and fall.
The rill has heard the call,
And, babbling low, her answer made,—
A laugh, 'twixt slip and fall.
Out from her cradle-roof of trees,
Over the free, rough ground!
The peaceful blue above she sees;
The cheerful green around.
Over the free, rough ground!
The peaceful blue above she sees;
The cheerful green around.
A pleasant world for running streams
To steal unnoticed through,
At play with all the sweet sky-gleams,
And nothing: else to do!
To steal unnoticed through,
At play with all the sweet sky-gleams,
And nothing: else to do!
A rock has stopped the silent rill,
And taught her how to speak:
He hinders her; she chides him still;
He loves her lispings meek.
And taught her how to speak:
He hinders her; she chides him still;
He loves her lispings meek.
And still he will not let her go:
But she may chide and sing,
And o'er him liquid freshness throw,
Amid her murmuring.
But she may chide and sing,
And o'er him liquid freshness throw,
Amid her murmuring.
The harebell sees herself no more
In waters clear at play;
Yet never she such azure wore,
Till wept on by the spray.
In waters clear at play;
Yet never she such azure wore,
Till wept on by the spray.
And many a woodland violet
Stays charmed upon the bank;
Her thoughtful blue eye brimming wet,
The rock and rill to thank.
Stays charmed upon the bank;
Her thoughtful blue eye brimming wet,
The rock and rill to thank.
The rill is blessing in her talk
What half she held a wrong,—
The happy trouble of the rock
That makes her life a song.
What half she held a wrong,—
The happy trouble of the rock
That makes her life a song.