Oh fair enough are sky and plain, But I know fairer far: Those are as beautiful again That in the water are;
The pools and rivers wash so clean The trees and clouds and air, The like on earth was never seen, And oh that I were there.
These are the thoughts I often think As I stand gazing down In act upon the cressy brink To strip and dive and drown;
But in the golden-sanded brooks And azure meres I spy A silly lad that longs and looks And wishes he were I.
Embed
About
Genius Annotation1 contributor
In this poem Housman breaks open the Narcissus myth, making the river viewer and his reflection residents of two different worlds gazing upon each other longingly. The world of images and the world of reality meet in the constant flux of the river’s light.
For another look at the Narcissus story, see poem XV in this same collection.
Expand
1
Share
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning