GLEAMING through clouds, the low and western sun
Of river-side lights up the rocky face;
See there, as by magician’s lantern, run
Canoe, men, paddles, all, in mimic race;
Instant our men accept the challenged chace;
With shout, with bended back, with splashing hand,
Urge their light vessel to redoubled pace,
And keep the equal strife, till where the land
Recedes, their rival drops. The rugged band,
Perchance, may picture in their harmless sport
Full many a scene where loftier figures stand
In scheming world, gay circle, princely court.
Men, to a proverb, shadows vain pursue,
For nothing strive, and false confound with true.
(George Jehoshaphat Mountain)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, World Poems, Faces Poems, Running Poems, Proverbs PoemsBased on Keywords: scheming, paddles, river-side, redoubled