The Mill-Water

By Madison Julius Cawein

    The water-flag and wild cane grow     'Round banks whereon the sunbeams sow     Fantastic gold when, on its shores,     The wind sighs through the sycamores.     In one green angle, just in reach,     Between a willow-tree and beech,     Moss-grown and leaky lies a boat     The thick-grown lilies keep afloat.     And through its waters, half awake,     Slow swims the spotted water-snake;     And near its edge, like some gray streak,     Stands gaunt the still fly-up-the-creek.     Between the lily-pads and blooms     The water-spirits set their looms,     That weave the lace-like light that dims     The glimmering leaves of under limbs.     Each lily is the hiding-place     Of some dim wood-imp's elvish face,     That watches you with gold-green eyes     Where bubbles of its breathing rise.     I fancy, when the waxing moon     Leans through the trees and dreams of June,     And when the black bat slants its wing,     And lonelier the green-frogs sing;     I fancy, when the whippoorwill     In some old tree sings wild and shrill,     With glow-worm eyes that dot the dark,     Each holding high a firefly spark     To torch its way, the wood-imps come:     And some float rocking here; and some     Unmoor the lily leaves and oar     Around the old boat by the shore.     They climb through oozy weeds and moss;     They swarm its rotting sides and toss     Their firefly torches o'er its edge     Or hang them in the tangled sedge.     The boat is loosed. The moon is pale.     Around the dam they slowly sail.     Upon the bow, to pilot it,     A jack-o'-lantern gleam doth sit.     Yes, I have seen it in my dreams!     Naught is forgotten! naught, it seems!     The strangled face, the tangled hair     Of the drown'd woman trailing there.

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline


Share the Love of Poetry

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Analysis & Notes:
This poem immerses the reader in a richly detailed natural world, imbued with elements of magic and a sense of the uncanny. The author employs vivid imagery to craft a piece that is at once picturesque and unsettling. The poem's tone oscillates between serene descriptions of the landscape and a sense of foreboding, culminating in a haunting revelation in the final lines.

The piece is structured around the central image of a boat, which is first introduced as a part of the landscape, moss-covered and kept afloat by lilies. As the poem progresses, this boat takes on an eerie significance, becoming active in the hands of the 'wood-imps'. The use of personification and mythological elements lend a fantastical tone to the poem, transforming the landscape into a living, breathing entity. The poem's rhythm and rhyming scheme give it a lilting, song-like quality, which enhances the dreamlike atmosphere.

The poem's final lines introduce a darker theme: a drowned woman, her strangled face and tangled hair vividly depicted. This sudden, jarring image contrasts sharply with the preceding whimsical descriptions, injecting a note of horror and tragedy into the scene. The poem ultimately speaks to the hidden, often darker, realities that lie beneath surface appearances, offering a poignant commentary on the fleeting nature of life and the inexorable presence of death, even within the most enchanting of settings.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.


Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.