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Home  »  The Oxford Book of Canadian Verse  »  Charles Sangster (1822–1893)

The Oxford Book of Canadian Verse

The Rapid

Charles Sangster (1822–1893)

ALL peacefully gliding,

The waters dividing,

The indolent batteau moved slowly along,

The rowers, light-hearted,

From sorrow long parted,

Beguiled the dull moments with laughter and song;

‘Hurrah for the rapid! that merrily, merrily

Gambols and leaps on its tortuous way;

Soon we will enter it, cheerily, cheerily,

Pleased with its freshness, and wet with its spray.’

More swiftly careering,

The wild rapid nearing,

They dash down the stream like a terrified steed;

The surges delight them,

No terrors affright them,

Their voices keep pace with the quickening speed;

‘Hurrah for the rapid! that merrily, merrily

Shivers its arrows against us in play;

Now we have entered it, cheerily, cheerily,

Our spirits as light as its feathery spray.’

Fast downward they’re dashing,

Each fearless eye flashing,

Though danger awaits them on every side;

Yon rock—see it frowning!

They strike—they are drowning!

But downward they speed with the merciless tide;

No voice cheers the rapid, that angrily, angrily

Shivers their bark in its maddening play;

Gaily they entered it—heedlessly, recklessly,

Mingling their lives with its treacherous spray!