Looking Glass River
After the poem by Robert Louis Stevenson

Early intermediate piano solo

Looking-glass River
by Robert Louis Stevenson


Smooth it glides upon its travel,
          Here a wimple, there a gleam--
O the clean gravel!
          O the smooth stream!

Sailing blossoms, silver fishes,
          Pave pools as clear as air--
How a child wishes
          To live down there!

We can see our colored faces
          Floating on the shaken pool
Down in cool places,
          Dim and very cool;

Till a wind or water wrinkle,
          Dipping marten, plumping trout,
Spreads in a twinkle
          And blots all out.

See the rings pursue each other;
          All below grows black as night,
Just as if mother
          Had blown out the light!

Patience, children, just a minute--
          See the spreading circles die;
The stream and all in it
          Will clear by-and-by.