The unhappy exile, whom his fates confine To the bleak coast of some unfriendly isle, Cold, barren, desart, where no harvests smile, But thirst and hunger on the rocks repine; When, from some promontory's fearful brow, Sun after sun he hopeless sees decline In the broad shipless sea -- perhaps may know Such heartless pain, such blank despair as mine: And, if a flattering cloud appears to show The fancied semblance of a distant sail, Then melts away -- anew his spirits fail, While the lost hope but aggravates his woe! Ah! so for me delusive Fancy toils, Then, from contrasted truth -- my feeble soul recoils. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COLUMBUS by EDWARD EVERETT HALE THE SMACK IN SCHOOL by WILLIAM PITT PALMER VALENTINES TO MY MOTHER: 1876 by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI I HAVE A GARMENT by ABRAHAM IBN EZRA LATE AUTUMN by WILLIAM ALLINGHAM AUNT CAROLINE by ANNYE LEWIS ALLISON |