William Wordsworth

Remembrance of Collins

Composed upon the Thames, near Richmond

GLIDE gently, thus forever glide,
O Thames! that other bards may see
As lovely visions by thy side
As now, fair river! come to me.	
O, glide, fair stream! forever so
Thy quiet soul on all bestowing,
Till all our minds forever flow	
As thy deep waters now are flowing.

Vain thought!—Yet be as now thou art,
That in thy waters may be seen
The image of a poet’s heart,
How bright, how solemn, how serene!
Such as did once the poet bless,
Who, murmuring here a later ditty,
Could find no refuge from distress
But in the milder grief of pity.

Now let us, as we float along,
For him suspend the dashing oar;
And pray that never child of song
May know that poet’s sorrows more.
How calm! how still! the only sound,
The dripping of the oar suspended!
The evening darkness gathers round,
By virtue’s holiest powers attended.