In the days before the high tide Swept away the towers of sand Built with so much care and labour By the children of the land. Pale, upon the pallid beaches, Thirsting, on the thirsty sands. Ever cried I to the Distance, Ever seaward spread my hands. See, they come, they come, the ripples, Singing, singing fast and low, Meet the longing of the sea-shores, Clasp them, kiss them once, and go. 'Stay, sweet Ocean, satisfying All desires into rest --' Not a word the Ocean answered, Rolling sunward down the west. Then I wept: 'Oh, who will give me To behold the stable sea, On whose tideless shores for ever Sounds of many waters be?' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BELLS OF LYNN; HEARD AT NAHANT by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW ON THE BIRTH OF HIS SON by SU SHIH ON A TOBACCO JAR by BERNARD BARKER THE MONITOR by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE THE INTERCEPTED SALUTE by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN DON JUAN: CANTO 7 by GEORGE GORDON BYRON |