Where the slow river br meets the tide, br a red swan lifts red wings br and darker beak, br and underneath the purple down br of his soft breast br uncurls his coral feet. br br Through the deep purple br of the dying heat br of sun and mist, br the level ray of sun-beam br has caressed br the lily with dark breast, br and flecked with richer gold br its golden crest. br br Where the slow lifting br of the tide, br floats into the river br and slowly drifts br among the reeds, br and lifts the yellow flags, br he floats br where tide and river meet. br br Ah kingly kiss -- br no more regret br nor old deep memories br to mar the bliss; br where the low sedge is thick, br the gold day-lily br outspreads and rests br beneath soft fluttering br of red swan wings br and the warm quivering br of the red swan's breast.