I SIT upon the old sea wall, And watch the shimmering sea, Where soft and white the moonbeams fall, Till, in a fantasy, Some pure white maiden's funeral pall The strange light seems to me. The waters break upon the shore And shiver at my feet, While I dream old dreams o'er and o'er, And dim old scenes repeat; Tho' all have dreamed the same before, They still seem new and sweet. The waves still sing the same old song That knew an elder time; The breakers' beat is not more strong, Their music more sublime; And poets thro' the ages long Have set these notes to rhyme. But this shall not deter my lyre, Nor check my simple strain; If I have not the old-time fire, I know the ancient pain: The hurt of unfulfilled desire, -- The ember quenched by rain. I know the softly shining sea That rolls this gentle swell Has snarled and licked its tongues at me And bared its fangs as well; That 'neath its smile so heavenly, There lurks the scowl of hell! But what of that? I strike my string (For songs in youth are sweet); I'll wait and hear the waters bring Their loud resounding beat; Then, in her own bold numbers sing The Ocean's dear deceit! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FIRST MOVIE by DAVID WAGONER BATTLE OF THE BALTIC by THOMAS CAMPBELL THE SORROW OF LOVE (2) by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS A VISION OF THE VOICE OF YAHVEH by AMOS SATIRE: 4 by AULUS PERSIUS FLACCUS THE FRENCH REVOLUTION by WILLIAM BLAKE EPITAPH ON JAMES GRIEVE, THE LAIRD OF BOGHEAD by ROBERT BURNS |