Origin of Names 83 



Oh Darkling River! * * * 



* * * The dweller by thy side, 



Who moored his little boat upon thy beach, 

 Though all the waters that upbore it then 

 Have slid away o'er night, shall find, at morn. 

 Thy channel filled with waters freshly drawn 

 From distant cliffs, and hollows where the rill 

 Comes up amid the Water-flags. 



Bryant: Night Journey of a River. 



How graceful climb those shadows on my hill! 

 I fancy these pure waters and the Flags 

 Know me, as does my dog; we sympathize. 



Emerson: Hamatreya 



All night long he sailed upon it. 

 Sailed upon that sluggish water. 

 Covered with its mould of ages. 

 Black with rotting water-rushes 

 Rank with Flags and leaves of lilies. 



***** 



Then once more Cheemaum he patted. 



To his birch canoe said "Onward!" 



And it stirred in all its fibres. 



And with one great bound of triumph 



Leaped across the water lilies. 



Leaped through tangled Flags and rushes. 



And upon the beach before them 



Dry-shod landed Hiawatha. 



Longfellow: Hiawatha. 



