The poem describes a serene and idyllic scene of mountains reflected in a still lake at dawn. The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life and beauty, comparing it to the ephemeral quality of mountain pictures formed by the morning mist. The poem explores themes of impermanence, mortality, and the transience of human experience.
By John Greenleaf Whittier · First published 1847 · Genre: Nature Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric Poetry