—For if those streaks, those mile-long, shiny, tearstains,aren't waterfalls yet,in a quick age or so, as ages go here,they probably will be.
-- The Speaker (Lines 6-9)

Importance: In these lines, the speaker imbues the small streams with sadness and also reflects on time from a macro perspective. The word "tearstains" stands out in the list of descriptions because of its connection to the emotion of sadness. Despite the fact that the speaker refers to a passing age as "quick," it is likely that the age is only quick in the grand scheme of things.

Think of the long trip home.Should we have stayed at home and thought of here?
-- The Speaker (Lines 13-14)

Importance: In the second stanza, the speaker begins asking questions about travel. The word "should" implies ethical reasoning. When the speaker instructs the reader to think of the long trip home, she brings to mind both distance and inconvenience. This quote also separates...