Classic Poem

I.

The River's silver laughter
But yesterday I heard:
A blither note rang after
Than note of brook or bird.
A maiden's laughing gladness
Made all the bright world sweet:
The stream forswore its sadness,
And felt its old heart beat.

II.

But ah! the River loved her;
Her voice to him was song:
It would not yield or spare her;
The River's love was strong
With cold white curling wavelets
It bore her from the bank:
The River laughed for rapture
As in his arms she sank.

III.

O cruel, cruel River!
Her lips were warm and red;
But now thy waves have kissed them,
They are so cold and dead!
O River, fierce wild River,
Thy love was strange and strong,
But ah! thy love has slain her,
And where is now thy song?