Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FAITH by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE SEA WAS BREAKING AT MY FEET
Last Line: "THERE IS! THERE IS!"" REPLIED."
Subject(s): FAITH; RELIGION; SEA; BELIEF; CREED; THEOLOGY; OCEAN;
THE sea was breaking at my feet,
And looking out across the tide,
Where placid waves and heaven meet,
I thought me of the Other Side.

For on the beach on which I stood
Were wastes of sands, and wash, and roar,
Low clouds, and gloom, and solitude,
And wrecks, and ruins -- nothing more.

"O, tell me if beyond the sea
A heavenly port there is!" I cried,
And back the echoes laughingly
"There is! there is!" replied.



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