Classic Poem

As one may stand upon a river's bank
Lustred with daisies and forget-me-not,
And in a pool as clear as any tank
Behold the naked fish, with purple shot,
Coral of fin, and back as blue as lead,
Dart here and there as if they were afraid,
Or hang above the golden gravel-bed
In rings of lovely light to view displayed;
And then anon at ruffling of the wind
The pool grows milky as a breathed glass,
And nothing is to see, where all that was,
But rippled water by the breezes dimmed:

So have I often stood, as by a brim,
In girls' clear minds to watch the fishes swim;
Which bubble to their eyes, or dive into places
Deep, yet visible still 'neath crystal faces:
Then, — whether by mere airy blowing,
Or (as Bethesda's pool) that winged one's unseen going —
Clouded is all the vision, naught to see
But ripples and ruffles and trepidity:
Ah! sad young man, this moral here you find:
Touch not her heart, if you would know her mind.