 Vodník tells a story in four parts of a mischievous water goblin who traps drowning souls in upturned teacups.Dvořák's symphonic piece, which is written in the form of a rondo, follows Erben's written verses remarkably closely; in many places the text fits literary to Dvořák's music.This may well be a result of the fact that Dvořák derived his themes from putting Erben's words to music.