REMEMBRANCE OF COLLINS
COMPOSED UPON THE THAMES NEAR RICHMOND
REMEMBRANCE OF COLLINS
GLIDE gently, thus for ever glide, O Thames! that other bards may see As lovely visions by thy side As now, fair river! come to me. O glide, fair stream! for ever so, Thy quiet soul on all bestowing, Till all our minds for ever flow As thy deep waters now are flowing. Vain thought!–Yet be as now thou art, That in thy waters may be seen 10 The image of a poet’s heart, How bright, how solemn, how serene! Such as did once the Poet bless, Who murmuring here a later ditty, Could find no refuge from distress But in the milder grief of pity. Now let us, as we float along, For ‘him’ suspend the dashing oar; And pray that never child of song May know that Poet’s sorrows more. 20 How calm! how still! the only sound, The dripping of the oar suspended! –The evening darkness gathers round By virtue’s holiest Powers attended. 1789.