Songo River
Birds Of Passage. Flight The Fourth
Songo River - meaning Summary
Calmness as Moral Counsel
Longfellow's poem observes the slow, winding Songo River and treats its stillness as a moral example. The speaker contrasts the river's calm, reflective course with haste and noisy, shallow streams. Addressing a traveler, the poem urges pause, rest, and thoughtful living, suggesting that quiet self-control links people and imparts wisdom more than busy activity. The river's secluded name and solitude reinforce its role as a teacher of patience.
Read Complete AnalysesNowhere such a devious stream, Save in fancy or in dream, Winding slow through bush and brake, Links together lake and lake. Walled with woods or sandy shelf, Ever doubling on itself Flows the stream, so still and slow That it hardly seems to flow. Never errant knight of old, Lost in woodland or on wold, Such a winding path pursued Through the sylvan solitude. Never school-boy, in his quest After hazel-nut or nest, Through the forest in and out Wandered loitering thus about. In the mirror of its tide Tangled thickets on each side Hang inverted, and between Floating cloud or sky serene. Swift or swallow on the wing Seems the only living thing, Or the loon, that laughs and flies Down to those reflected skies. Silent stream! thy Indian name Unfamiliar is to fame; For thou hidest here alone, Well content to be unknown. But thy tranquil waters teach Wisdom deep as human speech, Moving without haste or noise In unbroken equipoise. Though thou turnest no busy mill, And art ever calm and still, Even thy silence seems to say To the traveller on his way:-- 'Traveller, hurrying from the heat Of the city, stay thy feet! Rest awhile, nor longer waste Life with inconsiderate haste! 'Be not like a stream that brawls Loud with shallow waterfalls, But in quiet self-control Link together soul and soul.'
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