Fountain
Theme In the poem “The Fountain,” the theme centers on the fountain as a symbol of the consistent, resilient nature of the individual with a positive outlook on life. To James Russell Lowell, life imitates a fountain. Always in motion, the fountain is affected by changes in the wind and the weather, yet its basic motion and upbeat nature remain the same. While each spray of the fountain may vary slightly, the same basic upward motion underlies each spray. In imitating a fountain, Lowell implies that basic human nature should also remain cheerful and positive, despite the unexpected changes or diversions life may deliver.