To the River
Fair river! in thy bright, clear flow Of crystal, wandering water, Thou art an emblem of the glow Of beauty- the unhidden heart- The playful maziness of art In old Alberto’s daughter; But when within thy wave she looks- Which glistens then, and trembles- Why, then, the prettiest of brooks Her worshipper resembles; For in his heart, as in thy stream, Her image deeply lies- His heart which trembles at the beam Of her soul-searching eyes.
To the River - meaning Summary
Beauty Reflected in Water
Poe likens a bright, wandering river to the visible charm and artful grace of a young woman, named as Alberto’s daughter. The stream serves as an emblem of beauty until the woman peers into it; her gaze animates the water and mirrors her power. The poem then shifts to the admirer, whose heart reflects her image and trembles under her "soul-searching eyes," showing how beauty both reveals and unsettles.
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