THE City of God is late become a seaport town For the clean and bronzed sailors walking up and down And the bearded Commanders, the Captains so brave, Bringing there the taste of the sea from the salt sea wave. There are boys in the City's streets make holiday And all around are playing-fields and the boys at play; They dive in clear waters, climb many a high tree, They look out as they used to do for a ship at sea. The sailor keeps a clean soul on the seas untrod; There is room in the great spaces for the Vision of God Walking on the waters, bidding him not fear; He has the very cleanest eyes a man can wear. There's salt wind in Heaven and the salt sea-spray, And the little midshipmen boys are shouting at their play, There's a soft sound of waters lapping on the shore, The sailor he is home from sea to go back no more. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: RICHARD BONE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS EPITAPH ON ELIZABETH, L.H. by BEN JONSON THE SWAMP FOX by WILLIAM GILMORE SIMMS ON IMAGINATION by PHILLIS WHEATLEY MICHAEL; A PASTORAL POEM by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |