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...ODE FOR A SOCIAL MEETING, WITH SLIGHT ALTERATIONS BY A TEETOTALER by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES THE MOURNER A LA MODE by JOHN GODFREY SAXE PRAYER FOR STRENGTH by MARGARET E. BRUNER THE HUMAN TOUCH by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON |