Poems (McDonald)/The Frozen Stream
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Chained with strong fetters, fair and restless stream,
Thine onward course, thou rover, harshly stayed,
No more by mossy bank or sylvan glade,
Goest thou rejoicing—and the solar beam
That erst threw glittering gems upon thy breast,
No longer owns a power to set thee free:
Fain would the golden rays disturb thy rest,
But faint and trembling, fail to succor thee.
A mighty arm forbids thy further flow,
And seals with icy band each sparkling wave—
Lays bare the verdant bank thou lov'st to lave,
And stills thy babbling tongue; nor shalt thou know,
Sweet captive, aught of liberty again,
Till Spring, with gentle hand, unbinds the chilling chain.
THE FROZEN STREAM.
Chained with strong fetters, fair and restless stream,
Thine onward course, thou rover, harshly stayed,
No more by mossy bank or sylvan glade,
Goest thou rejoicing—and the solar beam
That erst threw glittering gems upon thy breast,
No longer owns a power to set thee free:
Fain would the golden rays disturb thy rest,
But faint and trembling, fail to succor thee.
A mighty arm forbids thy further flow,
And seals with icy band each sparkling wave—
Lays bare the verdant bank thou lov'st to lave,
And stills thy babbling tongue; nor shalt thou know,
Sweet captive, aught of liberty again,
Till Spring, with gentle hand, unbinds the chilling chain.