Poem by Menella Bute Smedley

A Nursery Rhyme

I found a little river in the sweet summer tide,
Lily, O Lily!
I wish that I were for ever by its side;
Cool is the running water.
All its rocks were marble, shining with dew,
Lily, O Lily!

On each rock of marble a palace-flower grew;
Cool is the running water.
Red were the palace-flowers, cups of red light;
Lily, O Lily!
White were the marble rocks, snow-clouds so white;
Cool is the running water.
In all the red cups butterflies sate,
Lily, O Lily!
Clad in new rainbows, and keeping their state;
Cool is the running water.

These rainbow butterflies all sang like birds,
Lily, O Lily!
I know the tune, but I cannot tell the words;
Cool is the running water.
I felt the song in my heart like a fear,
Lily, O Lily!
I ran away because I was so near;
Cool is the running water.
If I had gone where the butterflies drew,
Lily, O Lily!
I should be there now with my feet in the dew;
Cool is the running water.

I should be there now, with my face in the light,
Lily, O Lily!
With a king-butterfly all day and night;
Cool is the running water.
If I could tell what the butterflies said,
Lily, O Lily!
I should find my little river in its white bed;
Cool is the running water.
Comrades, search with me, run to and fro,
Lily, O Lily!
Tell if you find where the palace-flowers grow;
Cool is the running water.

I know they are growing there, each like a star,
Lily, O Lily!
Any one may find them, if he seeks far;
Cool is the running water.
Tell if you hear any faint notes and sweet,
Lily, O Lily!
Like living music that flows to your feet;
Cool is the running water.
I know they are singing there, just the same song,
Lily, O Lily!
Any one may hear them if he listens long;
Cool is the running water.

O! if they call you, go like the wind,
Lily, O Lily!
Take me beside you, leave me not behind;
Cool is the running water.
Take me beside you, over hill and plain,
Lily, O Lily!
O! my little river that I find not again;
Cool is the running water.
O! my little river, if I were on your shore,
Lily, O Lily!
I should live there, and not die, but sing evermore,
Cool is the running water.

1. The Little Schooner
2. The Little Fair Soul
3. The Six Burghers of Calais
4. Out of the Depths
5. Song (Take me from these dreary shades)

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