To Seneca Lake

On thy fair bosom, silver lake, The wild swan spreads his snowy sail, And round his breast the ripples break, As down he bears before the gale. On thy fair bosom, waveless stream, The dipping paddle echoes far, And flashes in the moonlight gleam, And bright reflects the polar star. The waves along thy pebbly shore, As blows the north-wind, heave their foam, And curl around the dashing oar, As late the boatman hies him home. How sweet, at set of sun, to view Thy golden mirror spreading wide, And see the mist of mantling blue Float round the distant mountain’s side. At midnight hour, as shines the moon, A sheet of silver spreads below, And swift she cuts, at highest noon, Light clouds, like wreaths of purest snow. On thy fair bosom, silver lake, O, I could ever sweep the oar, When early birds at morning wake, And evening tells us toil is o’er!

Collection: 
1815
Sub Title: 
IV. Inland Waters: Highlands

More from Poet

  • On thy fair bosom, silver lake, The wild swan spreads his snowy sail, And round his breast the ripples break, As down he bears before the gale. On thy fair bosom, waveless stream, The dipping paddle echoes far, And flashes in the moonlight gleam, And bright reflects the polar star. The...

  • Hail to the land whereon we tread, Our fondest boast! The sepulchre of mighty dead, The truest hearts that ever bled, Who sleep on glory’s brightest bed, A fearless host: No slave is here;—our unchained feet Walk freely, as the waves that beat Our coast. Our fathers crossed the ocean...

  • Deep in the wave is a coral grove, Where the purple mullet and gold-fish rove, Where the sea-flower spreads its leaves of blue, That never are wet with falling dew, But in bright and changeful beauty shine, Far down in the green and glassy brine. The floor is of sand like the mountain drift And...

  • O, it is great for our country to die, where ranks are contending! Bright is the wreath of our fame; glory awaits us for aye,— Glory, that never is dim, shining on with light never ending,— Glory that never shall fade, never, O never, away! O, it is sweet for our country to die! How softly...

  • Hay momentos tan bellos, tan dulces en la vida,
    Que su recuerdo siempre se aviva más y más,
    Y á los felices días añade nuevo encanto,
    Y en la miseria esparce benigna claridad.
    Momentos consagrados por sonrisas y lágrimas,
    Las del favor primero, las del adiós...