English poem
“Near Anio’S Stream, I Spied A Gentle Dove”
Near Anio’s stream, I spied a gentle Dove Perched on an olive branch, and heard her cooing ’Mid new-born blossoms that soft airs were wooing, While all things present told of joy and love. But restless Fancy left that olive grove To hail the exploratory Bird renewing Hope for the few, who, at the world’s undoing, On the great flood were spared to live and move. O bounteous Heaven! signs true as dove and bough Brought to the ark are coming evermore, Given though we seek them not, but, while we plough This sea of life without a visible shore, Do neither promise ask nor grace implore In what alone is ours, the living Now.
The Anio joins the Tiber north of Rome, flowing from the north-east past Tivoli.--ED.
1845.
Even though men seek them not, but, while they plough
1842.
1845.
… the vouchsafed Now.
1842.
More by William Wordsworth
- “Men Of The Western World! In Fate’S Dark Book”
- “MOST SWEET IT IS WITH UNUPLIFTED EYES "
- “MY DEAR SIR GEORGE,
- “My Son! Behold The Tide Already Spent”
- “Not To The Object Specially Designed”
- “Oh Bounty Without Measure, While The Grace”
- “Oh What A Wreck! How Changed In Mien And Speech!”
- “Our Bodily Life, Some Plead, That Life The Shrine”