I FOUND a pine that shot its solemn bole Twice fifty feet against the summer sky From out a sunless gorge; and sad of soul It seemed, until I sought to question why; Whereat the tree moaned darkly -- made this strange reply: "I am troubled betimes, I am sad in my sleep, Foreboding the day I shall stagger and leap And tremble through tempests o'er seas that are deep. "They will fashion me forth for a ship; they will make My stature and girth but a mock; they will break My branches and rend me for merchanting's sake. "Eternal unease shall be portioned to me, A creature firm rooted and fain so to be, -- Eternal unease on the shifting, loud sea. "For each to his nature; and mine is to grow Tall, somber, and steadfast, and gravely a-row With brothers as grave, while the centuries go. "I am troubled betimes, I am sorely oppressed, As I ponder and dream on my mother-earth's breast, With a fear of the ocean, that knoweth not rest." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MOTLEY: THE GHOST by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE SATIRES OF CIRCUMSTANCE: 3. BY HER AUNT'S GRAVE by THOMAS HARDY THE OLD MAN DREAMS by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES AUSPEX by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL KIT CARSON'S RIDE by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER SONNET: 10. TO THE LADY MARGARET LEY by JOHN MILTON |