Beyond the reach of the hungry tides, a storm-wind swept you high; Left you here in the blazing sun, broken and bleached and dry; Only a bit of drift-wood; whence came you—how and why? Did angry wave and tempest wild, on yonder rock-bound reef Drive to her death, some vessel weak, where nought could give relief? Left but this bit of drift-wood; yea, this, and searing grief? Like this frail ship, a soul goes down; the toll to sin is paid; The coast of folly strewn with wrecks, its siren call has made; Merely stray bits of drift-wood by life's grim fate betrayed. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HAPPY WIND by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES CLEOMENS, OR THE SPARTAN HERO: SONG by JOHN DRYDEN ESTONIAN BRIDAL SONG by JOHANN GOTTFRIED VON HERDER GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH ENTERS INTO HEAVEN by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY THE ROPEWALK by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE RAGGEDY MAN by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |