THE FOUNTAIN

                                              

                                       The Fountain

Central  Idea of the Poem

'The Fountain' is a very inspiring poem. The poet describes the fountain in three different aspects.In the sunshine it is bright and upward leaping and glittering. In the moon light it appears snowy white and sways rhythmically like flowers when the wind rushes. Under the starlight it rises and falls like spray. All the time it is cheerful and lively. All the time it seems to be aspiring higher and higher. The poet wishes to learn these qualities of freshness, change fitness,constancy and aspiring from the fountain.

Into the sunshine,

Full of the light,

Leaping and flashing

From morn till night!              

                               

                   Into the moonlight,

                   Whiter than snow.

                   Waving so flower-like,

                   When the winds blow

Into the starlight,

Rushing in spray,

Happy at midnight,

Happy by day!

                    

                   Ever in motion,

                   Blithesome and cheery,

                   Still climbing heavenward,

                   Never a weary;

Glad of all weathers,

Still seeming best,

Upward or downward

motion thy rest;

                  

                   Full of a nature

                   Nothing can tame,

                   Changed every moment,

                   Ever the same 

Ceaseless aspiring,

Ceaseless content,

Darkness or sunshine,

Thy element;

                   Glorious fountain!

                   Let my heart be

                   Fresh, changeful, constant,

                   Upward like thee!

                                                                                                                               by james Russell Lowell