Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

To the River Yvette

O LOVELY river of Yvette!
  O darling river! like a bride,
Some dimpled, bashful, fair Lisette,
  Thou goest to wed the Orge’s tide.

Maincourt and lordly Dampierre
  See and salute thee on thy way,
And with a blessing and a prayer
  Ring the sweet bells of St. Forget.

The valley of Chevreuse in vain
  Would hold thee in its fond embrace;
Thou glidest from its arms again
  And hurriest on with swifter pace.

Thou wilt not stay; with restless feet
  Pursuing still thine onward flight,
Thou goest as one in haste to meet
  Her sole desire, her heart’s delight.

O lovely river of Yvette!
  O darling stream! on balanced wings
Thy wood-birds sang the chansonnette
  That here an unknown poet sings.