Classic Poem

Why stand'st thou here alone, when all thy mates,
That crowded by the river's bank are gone?
From near a century thy history dates,
Amidst new scenes thou standest now alone!
How changed yon fields! how changed the river too,
When on its bank thy tiny form upsprung!
Swift cars and streets and work shops now we view,
Where once were groves and fields, when thou wast young.
On Nature's wild, yet beautiful domain,
Man by his arts encroaches more and more;
Acrost the river broad he throws his chain,
And builds the solid bridge from shore to shore;
Yet still thy top with milk-white flowers is crowned,
And summer breezes waft thy fragrance round.