Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79.

Avon, the River

The Avon

By William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

A Feeder of the Annan

AVON,—a precious, an immortal name!

Yet is it one that other rivulets bear

Like this unheard of, and their channels wear

Like this contented, though unknown to fame:

For great and sacred is the modest claim

Of streams to Nature’s love, where’er they flow;

And ne’er did Genius slight them, as they go,

Tree, flower, and green herb, feeding without blame.

But Praise can waste her voice on work of tears,

Anguish, and death: full oft, where innocent blood

Has mixed its current with the limpid flood,

Her heaven-offending trophies Glory rears:

Never for like distinction may the good

Shrink from thy name, pure rill, with unpleased ears.