She bent her head to the shining flood;
On swept the river in careless mood,
Mocking her poor endeavour.
"'Oh, river! river! give back to me
Some token of all I have given to thee,
To show thou art my lover!'
But the only answer to her prayer
Was the shade of her own love mirrored there,
With the reeds that grew above her.
"The proud reeds chid her, yet still she sighed,
Wondering such love could be so denied;
While ever towards the ocean,
Dreaming deep dreams of that future free,
The river swept on to the unknown sea,
Careless of her devotion.