Michael Drayton

Sonnet 32. Our Flood's-Queen Thames

      To the River Anker

OUR floods’ queen, Thames, for ships and swans is crowned;
And stately Severn for her shore is praised;
The crystal Trent for fords and fish renowned,
And Avon’s fame to Albion’s cliffs is raised.
Carlegion-Chester vaunts her holy Dee;
York many wonders of her Ouse can tell;
The Peak her Dove, whose banks so fertile be,
And Kent will say her Medway doth excel.
Cotswold commends her Isis to the Thame;
Our northern borders boast of Tweed’s fair flood;
Our western parts extol their Welly’s fame,
And the old Lea brags of the Danish blood.
  Arden’s sweet Anker, let thy glory be,
  That fair Idea only lives by thee.