Rossetti Archive Textual Transcription
Document Title: Down Stream
Author: Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Date of Composition: 1871
Type of Manuscript: fair copy
The full Rossetti Archive record for this transcribed document is available.
- Between Holmscote and Hurstcote
- The river-reaches wind,
- The whispering trees accept the breeze,
- The ripple's cool and kind:
- With love low-whispered 'twixt the shores,
- With rippling laughters gay,
- With white arms bared to ply the oars,
- On last year's first of May.
- Between Holmscote and Hurstcote
- 10 The river's brimmed with rain,
- Through close-met banks and parted banks
- Now near now far again:
- With parting tears caressed to smiles,
- With meeting promised soon,
- With every sweet vow that beguiles,
- On last year's first of June.
- Between Holmscote and Hurstcote
- The river's flecked with foam,
- 'Neath shuddering clouds that hang in shrouds
- 20 And lost winds wild for home:
- With infant wailings at the breast,
- With homeless steps astray,
- With wanderings shuddering towards one rest,
- On this year's first of May.
- Between Holmscote and Hurstcote
- The summer river flows
- With doubled flight of moons by night
- And lilies' deep repose:
- With lo! beneath the moon's white stare
- 30 A white face not the moon,
- With lilies meshed in tangled hair,
- On this year's first of June.
- Between Holmscote and Hurstcote
- A troth was given and riven,
- From heart's trust grew one life to two,
- Two lost lives cry to Heaven:
- With banks spread calm to meet the sky,
- With meadows newly mowed,
- The harvest-paths of glad July,
- 40 The sweet school-children's road.