The unhappy exile, whom his fates confine To the bleak coast of some unfriendly isle, Cold, barren, desart, where no harvests smile, But thirst and hunger on the rocks repine; When, from some promontory's fearful brow, Sun after sun he hopeless sees decline In the broad shipless sea -- perhaps may know Such heartless pain, such blank despair as mine: And, if a flattering cloud appears to show The fancied semblance of a distant sail, Then melts away -- anew his spirits fail, While the lost hope but aggravates his woe! Ah! so for me delusive Fancy toils, Then, from contrasted truth -- my feeble soul recoils. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A MEDITATION FOR HIS MISTRESS by ROBERT HERRICK THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 71. THE CHOICE (1) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI A COAT by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE COLLAR-BONE OF A HARE by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS MISTS by WILLIMINA L. ARMSTRONG SONNET: 8. TO THE RIVER ITCHIN, NEAR WINTON by WILLIAM LISLE BOWLES EPOGRAM; LINES WRITTEN ON A WINDOW AT THE KING'S ARMS, DUMFRIES by ROBERT BURNS |