the river

TheYangtzeRiver(长江)

TheYangtzeRiver

Whatariverthismustbetomakeitlffeltsofaroutfrom

land,tosoimpressitspersonalityonitsoverlord,

abowtoitinmymind,forIfeltintheprenceofagreat

gtzeRiver,aswe

followeditssmoothcourupthroughtheimmenstretchesof

flatfarmlandofcoastalChina,wasoneofthoriverswhichgive

theimpressionofbeingtheonlytrueandpermanentrulersof

theearth.

Riversperhapsaretheonlyphysicalfeaturesoftheworld

inranges,nolonger

eninprofiles,dwarftoanthills;aslotheirhorizons;lakes

havenolongerdepthbutlooklikebrightpenniesontheearth's

surface;forestsbecomeathinimpermanentfilm,amossonthe

topofawetstone,ers,whichfromthe

groundoneusuallyesonlyincrossctions,likeasmallsample

ofribbon--riversstretchoutrenelyaheadasfarastheeyecan

areenintheirtruestature.

Theytumbledownmountainsides;theymeanderthrough

strailthem;citiesridethem;farmsclingto

them;roadandrailroadtracksrunafterthemandtheyremain,

permanent,them,man'sgleamingcement

roadswhichhehasbuiltwithsuchcarelookfragileaspaper

e

ershave

carvedtheirwayovertheearth'sfaceforcenturiesandtheywill

stay.