Famous Poem
in Famous Nature Poems
"The Waterfall" by Jessie B. Rittenhouse explores the paradox of seeking solace in nature's grandeur but finding inner turmoil instead. The poem uses strong auditory imagery, such as the "jubilant wild voice" of the waterfall, to evoke the powerful and overwhelming presence of the natural world. The poet's use of contrast between the external "jubilant" sound and the internal "bound heart" highlights the tension between outward beauty and inner struggles. The personification of the waterfall's voice emphasizes its dominance, while the melancholic tone underscores the speaker's sense of frustration and longing for personal liberation.
I went to see a waterfall
When days were dull of song.
And to its jubilant wild voice
I listened deep and long.
I went to see a waterfall
When days were dull of song.
And to its jubilant wild voice
I listened deep and long.
I thought that it would loose my dreams,
But, ah, it could not free
My bound heart, for it sang so loud
It drowned the song in me.
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