Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONGS OF THE SEA CHILDREN: 100 by BLISS CARMAN

First Line: MY LOVE SAID, 'WHAT IS THE SEA?'
Last Line: "HEART OF MY HEART!"
Subject(s): SEA; OCEAN;
My love said, "What is the sea?"
I said, "The unmeasured sea
Is my heart, sweetheart,
That is stormy or still
With its great wild will,
Glorying, stainless and free,
Or sad with a sorrow beyond man's speech to impart,
But for ever calling to thee,
Heart of my heart."
My love said, "What is the tide?"
I said, "The unshackled tide
Is my love, sweetheart,
The draft and sweep
Of the restless deep,
Made clean as the stars and wide,
That forever must yearn to the land above and apart,
Till the day when she sinks to his side,
Heart of my heart."
My love said, "What is the land?"
I said, "The Summer land
Is thy face, sweetheart,
Dreamy and warm and glad,
In a benediction clad,
With sunshine sweetened and tanned;
And there is the set of the tide, the end and the start,
The sea's despair and demand,
Heart of my heart!"



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