Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SEA, by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES Poet Analysis First Line: Her cheeks were white, her eyes were wild Last Line: To smash his rocks with a dead child. Alternate Author Name(s): Davies, W. H. Subject(s): Sea; Ocean | ||||||||
Her cheeks were white, her eyes were wild, Her heart was with her sea-gone child. 'Men say you know and love the sea? It is ten days, my child left me; Ten days, and still he doth not come, And I am weary of my home.' I thought of waves that ran the deep And flashed like rabbits, when they leap, The white part of their tails; the glee Of captains that take brides to sea, And own the ships they steer; how seas Played leapfrog over ships with ease. The great Sea-Wind, so rough and kind; Ho, ho! his strength; the great Sea-Wind Blows iron tons across the sea! Ho, ho! his strength; how wild and free! He breaks the waves, to our amaze, Into ten thousand little sprays! 'Nay, have no fear'; I laughed with joy, 'That you have lost a sea-gone boy; The Sea's wild horses, they are far More safe than Land's tamed horses are; They kick with padded hoofs, and bite With teeth that leave no marks in sight. 'True, Waves will howl when, all day long, The Wind keeps piping loud and strong; For in ships' sails the wild Sea-Breeze Pipes sweeter than your birds in trees; But have no fear' -- I laughed with joy, 'That you have lost a sea-gone boy.' That night I saw ten thousand bones Coffined in ships, in weeds and stones; Saw how the Sea's strong jaws could take Big iron ships like rats to shake; Heard him still moan his discontent For one man or a continent. I saw that woman go from place To place, hungry for her child's face; I heard her crying, crying, crying; Then, in a flash! saw the Sea trying, With savage joy, and efforts wild, To smash his rocks with a dead child. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HALL OF OCEAN LIFE by JOHN HOLLANDER JULY FOURTH BY THE OCEAN by ROBINSON JEFFERS BOATS IN A FOG by ROBINSON JEFFERS CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE FIGUREHEAD by LEONIE ADAMS A BIRD'S ANGER by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES |
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