LIFE swelleth in a whitening wave, And dasheth thee and me apart. I sweep out seaward: -- be thou brave. And reach the shore, Sweetheart. Beat back the backward-thrusting sea. Thy weak white arm his blows may thwart. Christ buffet the wild surge for thee Till thou 'rt ashore, Sweetheart. Ah, now thy face grows dim apace, And seems of yon white foam a part. Canst hear me through the water-bass, Cry: "To the Shore, Sweetheart?" Now Christ thee soothe upon the Shore, My lissome-armed sea-Britomart. I sweep out seaward, never more To find the Shore, Sweetheart. PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA, December, 1867. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WE CAN'T WRITE OURSELVES INTO ETERNAL LIFE by DAVID IGNATOW FINALITY by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON REPULSE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE OCTOROON by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SHE WEEPS OVER RAHOON by JAMES JOYCE |