[Written at Scarborough, in the Summer of 1805.J Ah! why hath Jehovah, in forming the world, ALL hail to the ruins, the rocks, and the shores! With the waters divided the land, His ramparts of rocks round the continent hurled, Now brilliant with sunbeams and dimpled with And cradled the deep in his hand, oars, Now dark with the fresh-blowing gale, If man may transgress his eternal command, While soft o'er thy bosom the cloud-shadows sail, To ravage the uttermost earth, And the silver-winged sea-fowl on high, Like meteors bespangle the sky, Or dive in the gulf, or triumphantly ride, Like foam on the surges, the swans of the tide. And violate nations and realms that should be There are, gloomy Ocean, a brotherless clan, From the tumult and smoke of the city set free, The poor disinherited outcasts of man, Whom Avarice coins into slaves. From the homes of their kindred, their fore- Love, friendship, and conjugal bliss, Demands of the spoiler his share of the prey. Then joy to the tempest that whelms them beneath, And makes their destruction its sport; And the breezes that rock the light cradle of But woe to the winds that propitiously breathe, morn Are sweet as the Phoenix's pyre. O regions of beauty, of love and desire! Placed far on the fathomless main, Where Nature with Innocence dwelt in her youth, And waft them in safety to port, Where the vultures and vampires of Mammon resort; Where Europe exultingly drains Breaks on the rocks which, stern and gray, The night-wind warns me back once more So then, beach, bluff, and wave, farewell! No token stone nor glittering shell, But long and oft shall Memory tell Of this brief thoughtful hour of musing by the sea. JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER. OCEAN. GREAT Ocean! strongest of creation's sons, Loud uttering satire, day and night, on each Or murmurs hoarse and strong through mossy Fresh as the trickling rainbow of July: cleft and cave. What heed I of the dusty land And noisy town? I see the mighty deep expand From its white line of glimmering sand To where the blue of heaven on bluer waves shuts down! In listless quietude of mind, I yield to all The change of cloud and wave and wind ; Sea full of food, the nourisher of kinds, I wander with the waves, and with them rise A load your Atlas shoulders cannot lift? and fall. But look, thou dreamer! -wave and shore I with my hammer pounding evermore Then I unbar the doors: my paths lead out The exodus of nations: I disperse Men to all shores that front the hoary main. RALPH WALDO EMERSON. DOVER BEACH. THE sea is calm to-night, The tide is full, the moon lies fair Upon the Straits; -on the French coast, the light Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand, Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay. Come to the window; sweet is the night air! Only, from the long line of spray Where the ebb meets the moon-blanched sand, Of pebbles which the waves suck back, and fling, MATTHEW ARNOLD. SEA-MURMURS. Now swinging slow and slanting low, And yet I know, while to and fro O hand of God! O lamp of peace! The ship's convulsive roll, I own with love and tender awe A heavenly trust my spirit calms, Under the cottage roof again I heard the soothing summer raiu, JOHN TOWNSEND TROWBRIDGE, THE night is made for cooling shade, My hands upon my breast, and prayed, Each movement of the swaying lamp It starts and shudders, while it burns, THE LAUNCH. FROM "THE BUILDING OF THE SHIP." ALL is finished! and at length Slowly, in all his splendors dight The great sun rises to behold the sight. The ocean old, Centuries old, Strong as youth, and as uncontrolled, Up and down the sands of gold. With ceaseless flow, Heaves with the heaving of his breast. He waits impatient for his bride. With her foot upon the sands, Ready to be The bride of the gray old sea. H. W. LONGFELLOW. |