WHEN seas are calm, tost by no angry wind, What roving thoughts perplex my easy mind! My Muse no more delights me, I would fain Enjoy the tempting pleasures of the main. But when I see the blust'ring storms arise, Heaving up waves, like mountains, to the skies; The seas I dread, and all my fancy bend To the firm land, my old and certain friend. In pleasant groves I there can shelter take; 'Mongst the tall pines the winds but music make: The fisher's boat's his house, on seas he strives To cheat poor fish, but still in danger lives. Sweetly does gentle sleep my eyes invade, While free from fear, under the plane-trees' shade I lie, and there the neighb'ring fountains hear, Whose purling noise with pleasure charms the ear. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WIDOW AT WINDSOR by RUDYARD KIPLING LOVE'S JUSTIFICATION by MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI EPISTLE TO ROBERT, EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER by ALEXANDER POPE THE HYMNARY: 403. MARTYRS by ADAM OF SAINT VICTOR MORE WALKS by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM AN ACTOR'S REMINISCENCES by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) TO SIMPLICITY by MATILDA BARBARA BETHAM-EDWARDS ELIJAH AND THE PRIESTS OF BAAL: IN A TIME OF FAMINE by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |