Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
England: Vols. I–IV. 1876–79.

Thames, the River

The Thames

By James Thomson (1834–1882)

(From Autumn)

THEN commerce brought into the public walk

The busy merchant; the big warehouse built;

Raised the strong crane; choked up the loaded street

With foreign plenty; and thy stream, O Thames,

Large, gentle, deep, majestic, king of floods!

Chose for his grand resort. On either hand,

Like a long wintry forest, groves of masts

Shot up their spires; the bellying sheet between

Possessed the breezy void; the sooty hulk

Steered sluggish on; the splendid barge along

Rowed, regular, to harmony; around,

The boat, light skimming, stretched its oary wings;

While deep the various voice of fervent toil

From bank to bank increased.