THE sea-gull sits and shivers Beside her narrow nest, Her cloudy pinion quivers, Her eyes in vain would test The strength of unsubstantial air, The truth of the inconstant sea: Shall she cleave to solid earth, Hug the cliff that saw her birth, Or those untempted regions dare, And venture utterly? Where eastern stars are gleaming Above an eastern hill, A mortal wanders dreaming And hesitating still Between the low imperious call— The soul's instinctive sovereignty— And all the slavish sense that prays For common things and trodden ways, Too cowardly to stake its all And venture utterly. The sea-gull flew to claim Two realms—the sea, the sky, And Abram's tent became The angel's hostelry. Ah then, though God seem vague as breath, And Creeds inconstant as the sea: Although thine Isaac be not born And all thy fellows cry in scorn, "See where the dreamer hunts the wraith!" Let instinct lead, spread wings of faith, And venture utterly. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ELEGIAC SONNET: 2. WRITTEN AT THE CLOSE OF SPRING by CHARLOTTE SMITH IDYLLS OF THE KING: BALIN AND BALAN by ALFRED TENNYSON DECEMBER by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH A GIFT OF SPRING by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |