THE SALMON OF 



THE POOL 



This wealth of whirling water ^falling sheer y 



Turns into fairy lace its fierce white foam ; 



The rushing music doth appal the ear ; 



Yet here the gamy salmon seek a home. 



Where the bright river s bank by sentries drear ^ 



By tally dark pines, is watched through glow and gloam. 



How 'mid the seething crash the wavelets bright 

 Smile up I The eddies seem endowed with life ; 

 The currents, trembling in their torrent might. 

 Plunge seaward for a grapple of keen strife 

 With the in-rolling tide ; which now the light 

 Of Morning floods with radiance rich and rife. 



But, where the old mill's arm extends, more deep 



The river grows and slackens to a pool : 



And there brave warriors lurk in shining sleep. 



Knights of the river, confident and cool 



And safe ; until they wake with prideful leap 



To take the lure which doth their cunning fool. 



Then starts the old, old war 'twixt strength and skill; 

 One fights for freedom and his life to save ; 

 The other glories in his power to kill; 

 But neither in the fight would favor crave. 

 Game to the last, when caught, when dying, still 

 The salmon of the pool remains a warrior brave. 



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