To the River
To the River - meaning Summary
Beauty Reflected in Water
Poe likens a bright, wandering river to the visible charm and artful grace of a young woman, named as Alberto’s daughter. The stream serves as an emblem of beauty until the woman peers into it; her gaze animates the water and mirrors her power. The poem then shifts to the admirer, whose heart reflects her image and trembles under her "soul-searching eyes," showing how beauty both reveals and unsettles.
Read Complete AnalysesFair river! in thy bright, clear flow Of crystal, wandering water, Thou art an emblem of the glow Of beauty- the unhidden heart- The playful maziness of art In old Alberto’s daughter; But when within thy wave she looks- Which glistens then, and trembles- Why, then, the prettiest of brooks Her worshipper resembles; For in his heart, as in thy stream, Her image deeply lies- His heart which trembles at the beam Of her soul-searching eyes.
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