William Lisle Bowles

The Bridge between Clifton and Leigh Woods

FROWN ever opposite, the angel cried,
Who, with an earthquake’s might and giant hand,
Severed these riven rocks, and bade them stand
Severed forever! The vast ocean-tide,
Leaving its roar without at his command,
Shrank, and beneath the woods through the green land
Went gently murmuring on, so to deride
The frowning barriers that its force defied!
But Art, high o’er the trailing smoke below
Of sea-bound steamer, on yon summit’s head
Sat musing; and where scarce a wandering crow
Sailed o’er the chasm, in thought a highway led;
Conquering, as by an arrow from a bow,
The scene’s lone genius by her elfin-thread.