River Rhymes

1.

We have poled our staunch canoe
Many a boiling torrent through;
Paddling where the eddies drew,
Athwart the roaring flood we flew.

Chorus
Dip your paddles! make them leap,
Where the clear cold waters sweep.
Dip your paddles! steady keep,
Where breaks the rapid down the steep.

2.

Where the wind, like censer, flings
Smoke-spray wider as it swings,
Hark! the aisle of rainbow rings
To falls that hymn the King of kings.

3.

Lifting there our vessel tight,
Climbed we bank and rocky height,
Bore her through thick woods, where light
Fell dappling those green haunts of Night.

4.

O'er the rush of billows hurled,
Where they tossed and leaped and curled,
Past each wave-worn boulder whirled,
How fast we sailed, no sail unfurled!

5.

Laughs from parted lips and teeth
Hailed the quiet reach beneath,
Damascened in ferny sheath,
And girt with pine and maple wreath.

6.

Oh, the lovely river there
Made all Nature yet more fair;
Wooded hills and azure air
Kissed, quivering, in the stream they share.

7.

Plunged the salmon, waging feud
'Gainst the jewelled insect-brood;
From aerial solitude
An eagle's shadow crossed the wood.

8.

Flapped the heron, and the grey
Halcyon talked from cedar's spray,
Drummed the partridge far away;--
Ah! could we choose to live as they!

John Campbell

No biography available

John Campbell

The Strong Hunter.

John Campbell, Simple Poetry

Preface To Diarmid's Story

John Campbell, Simple Poetry

Ugonde's Tale.

John Campbell, Simple Poetry

Prologue. Government House, March 1879.

John Campbell, Simple Poetry

English

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The Forest River.

Amid the forest verdant shade,
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Our River

For a summer festival at The Laurels on the Merrimac.


Once more on yonder laurelled height
The summer flowers have budded;
Once more with summers golden light
The vales of home are flooded;
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Of every good the Giver,
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The west-wind down it blowing,
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We know the world is rich with streams
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Spring On The River.

O sun, shine hot on the river;
For the ice is turning an ashen hue,
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Oh! the din on the boats by the river;
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Floating Down The River.

My little bark glides steadily along,
    Still and unshaken as a summer dream;
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For 'tis but morning, and the current strong;
    So let the ripples bear me as they will;
Sweet, sweet is Life, and every sound is song;
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Bright shines the sun athwart the linden-trees;
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Fann'd by the same faint perfume-laden breeze;
    Bird-music answers sweetly through the air,
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            Swift floating down the River.

Pure lie the broad-leaved lilies ...

Walter R. Cassels

Minnetonka[BY]

I sit once more on breezy shore, at sunset in this glorious June,
I hear the dip of gleaming oar, I list the singers' merry tune.
Beneath my feet the waters beat, and ripple on the polished stones,
The squirrel chatters from his seat; the bag-pipe beetle hums and drones.
The pink and gold in blooming wold, the green hills mirrored in the lake!
The deep, blue waters, zephyr-rolled, along the murmuring pebbles break.
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The sapphire, set in emerald green, lies like an Orient gem asleep.
The crimson west glows like the breast of Rhuddin^[CA] when he pipes in May,
As downward droops the sun to rest, and shadows gather on the bay.
In amber sky the swallows fly and sail and circle o'er the deep;
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River Song

Swift and silent and strong
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Swift and silent and deep
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Blithe and merry and sweet
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I hear before I awaken
    The Bound of the church-bells ringing,
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