122
INCIDENT ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
LINES
ON AN INCIDENT OBSERVED FROM THE DECK OF A STEAMBOAT ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Where the dark primeval forests
Rise against the western sky,
And “the Father of the Waters”
In his strength goes rushing by:
Rise against the western sky,
And “the Father of the Waters”
In his strength goes rushing by:
There an eagle, flying earthward
From his eyrie far above,
With a serpent of the forest
In a fierce encounter strove.
From his eyrie far above,
With a serpent of the forest
In a fierce encounter strove.
Now he gains and now he loses,
Now he frees his ruffled wings;
And now high in air he rises;
But the serpent round him clings.
Now he frees his ruffled wings;
And now high in air he rises;
But the serpent round him clings.
In that death embrace entwining,
Now they sink and now they rise;
But the serpent wins the battle
With the monarch of the skies.
Now they sink and now they rise;
But the serpent wins the battle
With the monarch of the skies.
