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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE RECOMPENSE, by EFFIE WALLER SMITH Poet's Biography
First Line: O ancient ocean, with what courage stern
Last Line: Make pure the deeps of the aspiring soul.
Subject(s): Sea; Soul; Ocean
First Line: O ancient ocean, with what courage stern
Last Line: Make pure the deeps of the aspiring soul.
Subject(s): Sea; Soul; Ocean
O ancient ocean, with what courage stern
Thy tides, since time began, have sought to gain
The luring moon, toward which they rise in vain,
Yet daily to their futile aim return.
Like thee do glorious human spirits yearn
And strive and fail and strive and fail again
Some starlike aspiration to attain,
Some light that ever shall above them burn.
Yet truly shall their recompense abide
To all who strive, although unreached their goal:
The ceaseless surgings of the ocean tide
Do cleanse the mighty waters which they roll,
And the high dreams in which it vainly sighed
Make pure the deeps of the aspiring soul.
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 GOOD-BYE by EFFIE WALLER SMITH