RICHMOND

Richmond riverside, 10 October, around teatime, tide receding

Lines written near Richmond, upon the Thames at Evening

William Wordsworth

Glide gently, thus forever glide,
O Thames! that other bards may see,
As lovely visions by thy side
As now, fair river! come to me.
Oh glide, fair stream! for ever so;
Thy quiet soul on all bestowing,
'Till all our minds forever flow,
As thy deep waters now are flowing.

Vain thought!  Yet be as now thou art,

That in thy waters may be seen

The image of a poets heart,

How bright, how solemn, how serene!

Such as did once the Poet bless

Who murmuring once a later ditty,

Could find no refuge from distress

But in the milder grief of pity.

Now let us, as we float along,

For him suspend the dashing oar;

And pray that never child of song

May know that Poet’s sorrows more.

How calm!  How still!  The only sound,

The dripping of the oar suspended!

- The evening darkness gathers round

By virtue’s holiest powers attended.