Poems of Felicia Hemans in A Collection of Peninsular Melodies 1830/The Rio Verde Song

by Felicia Hemans

For other versions of this work, see The Rio Verde Song.

From another review in The Edinburgh Literary Journal, July-Dec, 1830, page 285

FLOW, RIO VERDE!

By Mrs Hemans.

"Flow, Rio Verde!
    In melody flow;
Win her that weepeth,
    To slumber from woe:
Bid thy wave's music
    Roll through her dreams;
Grief ever loveth
    The kind voice of streams.

"Bear her lone spirit
    Afar on the sound,
Back to her childhood,
    Her life's fairy ground:
Pass like the whisper
    Of love that is gone:
Flow, Rio Verde,
    Softly flow on!

"Dark, glassy water!
    So crimson'd of yore!
Voices of sorrow
    Are known to thy shore:
Thou shouldst have echoes
    For grief's deepest tone—
Flow, Rio Verde,
    Softly flow on!"