Explore "Ashly Mere" by Madison Cawein on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Come! look in the shadowy water here, / The stagnant water of Ashly Mere: / Where the stirless depths are dark but clear, / What is the thing that lies there? -- / A lily-pod half sunk from sight? / Or spawn of the toad all water-white? / Or ashen blur of the moon's wan light? / Or a woman's face and eyes there?
Now lean to the water a listening ear, / The haunted water of Ashly Mere: / What is the sound that you seem to hear / In the ghostly hush of the deeps there? -- / A withered reed that the ripple lips? / Or a night-bird's wing that the surface whips? / Or the rain in a leaf that drips and drips? / Or a woman's voice that weeps there?