Explore "On the Pawtuxet" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Broad and blue is the river, all bright in the sun; / The little waves sparkle, the little waves run; / The birds carol high, and the winds whisper low; / The boats beckon temptingly, row upon row; / Her hand is in mine as I help her step in. / Please Heaven, this day I shall lose or shall win- / Broad and blue is the river.
Cool and gray is the river, the sun sinks apace, / And the rose-colored twilight glows soft in her face. / In the midst of the rose-color Venus doth shine, / And the blossoming wild grapes are sweeter than wine; / Tall trees rise above us, four bridges are past, / And my stroke's running slow as the current runs fast- / Cool and gray is the river.
Smooth and black is the river, no sound as we float / Save the soft-lapping water in under the boat. / The white mists are rising, the moon's rising too, / And Venus, triumphant, rides high in the blue. / I hold the shawl round her, her hand is in mine, / And we drift under grape-blossoms sweeter than wine- / Smooth and black is the river.