Poem by Robert Louis Stevenson

A Child's Garden of Verses. 35. Looking-glass River

Smooth it glides upon its travel,
    Here a wimple, there a gleam-- 
    O the clean gravel! 
    O the smooth stream!

Sailing blossoms, silver fishes,
    Pave pools as clear as air-- 
    How a child wishes 
    To live down there!

We can see our colored faces
    Floating on the shaken pool 
    Down in cool places, 
    Dim and very cool;

Till a wind or water wrinkle,
    Dipping marten, plumping trout, 
    Spreads in a twinkle 
    And blots all out.

See the rings pursue each other;
    All below grows black as night, 
    Just as if mother 
    Had blown out the light!

Patience, children, just a minute--
    See the spreading circles die; 
    The stream and all in it 
    Will clear by-and-by.

1. Songs of Travel and Other Verses. 13. Mater Triumphans
2. About the Sheltered Garden Ground
3. Voluntary
4. Songs of Travel and Other Verses. 28. To an Island Princess
5. My Body which My Dungeon Is

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