Lake-Song

By Jean Starr Untermeyer

The lapping of lake water

Is like the weeping of women,

The weeping of ancient women

Who grieved without rebellion.

The lake falls over the shore

Like tears on their curven bosoms.

Here is languid, luxurious wailing;

The wailing of kings’ daughters.

So do we ever cry,

A soft, unmutinous crying,

When we know ourselves each a princess

Locked fast within her tower.

The lapping of lake water

Is like the weeping of women,

The fertile tears of women

That water the dreams of men.