Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
America: Vols. XXV–XXIX. 1876–79.

Middle States: Otsego, the Lake, N. Y.

Otsego Lake

By Constance Fenimore Woolson (1840–1894)

O HAUNTED lake, from out whose silver fountains

The mighty Susquehanna takes its rise;

O haunted lake, among the pine-clad mountains,

Forever smiling upward to the skies,—

Thrice blest art thou in every curling wavelet,

In every floating water-lily sweet,—

From the old Lion at thy northern boundary,

To fair Mount Vision sleeping at thy feet.

A master’s hand hath painted all thy beauties;

A master’s mind hath peopled all thy shore

With wraiths of mighty hunters and fair maidens,

Haunting thy forest glades forevermore.

A master’s heart hath gilded all thy valley

With golden splendor from a loving breast;

And in thy little churchyard, ’neath the pine-trees,

A master’s body sleeps in quiet rest.

O haunted lake, guard well thy sacred story,—

Guard well the memory of that honored name!

Guard well the grave that gives thee all thy glory

And raises thee to long-enduring fame.