O Nature, thou art ever fair,
And ever fair thou art to me.
Thy radiant spirit's everywhere
On mountain height and grassy lea.
In sweet Kentucky love I thee!
Where laurel blooms and blue-grass grows.
But thou art dearest all to me,
Where dreamingly the Elkhorn flows.
Sweet silver Elkhorn,
I hear thy music in my dreams.
Clear, rippling Elkhorn —
Queen of all the Blue-Grass streams.
2
All through the sunny hours in June
I listen to thy limpid strain
That lulls to softer, sweeter tune
The music in my heart and brain.
But O to dream these hours away!
And feel the magic of thy flow.
What more need I of charm to stay?
What more of simple joy to know ?
3
O Elkhorn, thou must surely know
The time when I my loved one meet,
For in the evening-'s soft'ning glow
I hear thee say, "To love is sweet."
"To love is sweet," thou'rt whisp'ring now,
With voice untouched, untrained by art.
Sing on, fair Elkhorn, gently thou!
Sing to my love-awakened heart!
4
O Elkhorn, fairest of the fair!
That shimmers in the sunlight's beams.
O Elkhorn, rarest of the rare!
With dancing ripples, curls and gleams
Of all the jewels I have seen
In Nature's realm, I prize thee best —
Thee Elkhorn — diamond-pure serene
That glitters on Kentucky's breast.
Frankfort, Kentucky.