MY bark floats on the sea of death, Of deep'ning waves the sport; And dull disease, with heavy breath, Impels me from the port. Wide and unknown, the ocean surge Outstretches to my ken; Oh! when I reach yon cloudy verge, What sights will meet me then? Thee, native world, full well I know; And as thy shores recede, Mine eyes still wander from the prow, Familiar forms to read. There shines the light that first I knew, The scenes that light displayed; From which my soul the feelings drew, Whereof itself was made. There lie the shapes of joys and ills, Which moved erewhile my mind; Like storms and suns upon the hills The trav'ller leaves behind. But still receding, wafted on, All indistinct they grow; The busy crowd that moves thereon To me is silent now. Its glittering ray mine eye escapes, The mists are round me furl'd; Farewell, farewell, ye human shapes! Farewell, my native world! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET TO A FRIEND WHO ASKED, HOW I FELT ... MY INFANT TO ME by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE DAY: MORNING by JOHN CUNNINGHAM HOW VIOLETS CAME BLUE by ROBERT HERRICK SONNET: 9 by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL TO THE WHITE FIENDS by CLAUDE MCKAY MARGARET FULLER by AMOS BRONSON ALCOTT |