Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


STORM AT SEA (1) by ALCAEUS OF MYTILENE

First Line: THE QUARRELLING WINDS PERPLEX ME. ON THIS SIDE
Last Line: WITH GREAT HOLES GAPING, RENT AND TORN.
Subject(s): SEA; STORMS; OCEAN;

THE quarrelling winds perplex me. On this side
One wave rolls up, on that a different tide,
And the black ship, whereon we sail,
Shifts with the shifting of the gale.

We are exhausted by the fearful blast:
Round the mast's foot the bilge is rising fast.
And all the sail is thin and worn,
With great holes gaping, rent and torn.



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