THE RHYME OF THE GREAT RIVER.

Rhyme on, rhyme on in reedy flow,

O river, rhymer ever sweet!

The story of thy land is meet,

The stars stand listening to know.

Rhyme on, O river of the earth!

Gray father of the dreadful seas,

Rhyme on! the world upon its knees

Shall yet invoke thy wealth and worth.

Rhyme on, the reed is at thy mouth,

O kingly minstrel, mighty stream!

Thy Crescent City, like a dream,

Hangs in the heaven of my South.

Rhyme on, rhyme on! these broken strings

Sing sweetest in this warm south wind;

I sit thy willow banks and bind

A broken harp that fitful sings.