Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79.

Leven, the River

Loch Leven’s Gentle Stream

By Eliza Cook (1812–1889)

I ’VE gazed upon the rapid Rhine,

I ’ve seen its waters foam and shine;

I ’ve watched its cascades, wild and bright,

Leap proudly on, in rainbow light;

Its waves have charmed my dazzled eye,

Like molten silver dashing by:

Still, still, I could not love the Rhine;

The land it watered was not mine:

I sighed to see the moon’s mild beam

Fall on Loch Leven’s gentle stream!

I ’ve wandered by the placid Rhone,

When night was on her starry throne;

I ’ve looked upon the Tiber’s tide,

And plucked the wild-flowers by its side;

I ’ve heard the gondolier’s wild note

O’er the Lagoon’s fair waters float:

Still, still, I turned, with willing feet,

My native North again to greet!

Again to see the moon’s mild beam

Fall on Loch Leven’s gentle stream!