John Greenleaf Whittier: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Laurels

John Greenleaf Whittier

“The Laurels” as printed in The Complete Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier (1895).

John Greenleaf Whittier: Collected Lyrics Text 2 1895 · historical text
Public domainBalladAmerican song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Complete Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

From these wild rocks I look to-day

O’er leagues of dancing waves, and see

The far, low coast-line stretch away

To where our river meets the sea.

The light wind blowing off the land

Is burdened with old voices; through

Shut eyes I see how lip and hand

The greeting of old days renew.

O friends whose hearts still keep their prime,

Whose bright example warms and cheers,

Ye teach us how to smile at Time,

And set to music all his years!

I thank you for sweet summer days,

For pleasant memories lingering long,

For joyful meetings, fond delays,

And ties of friendship woven strong.

As for the last time, side by side,

You tread the paths familiar grown,

I reach across the severing tide,

And blend my farewells with your own.

Make room, O river of our home!

For other feet in place of ours,

And in the summers yet to come,

Make glad another Feast of Flowers!

Hold in thy mirror, calm and deep,

The pleasant pictures thou hast seen;

Forget thy lovers not, but keep

Our memory like thy laurels green.

Credits

Written by John Greenleaf Whittier

Words by John Greenleaf Whittier. Historical text published in The Complete Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier (1895); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Complete Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier (1895), “The Laurels”

Every text in this 1895 collected edition is by John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892), who died more than 133 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-27. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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