I’ve known rivers . . . I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young, I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep, I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, And I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I’ve known rivers: Ancient, dusky rivers, My soul has grown deep like the rivers.