Back to our shores he comes from the sad strand, And some, who know so much of that and this, And what can never be, and what's amiss, Give him cold welcome to his native land; But some, the humbler-hearted, understand At least that through the strife he bears with him, And shields as best he may with hopeful hand, A little struggling flame, late kindled and dim. High tide in all the waters of the world, The winds of all the wild years up and out, And one frail light amid their fury swirled! It cannot perish. Strong through storm and doubt It must burn on—to blaze at last sublime, A watch-fire on the topmost hill of time. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FUTURE LIFE by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT TO THE PIOUS MEMORY OF THE YOUNG LADY MRS. ANNE KILLIGREW by JOHN DRYDEN A LITTLE DUTCH GARDEN by HARRIET WHITNEY DURBIN ON A TREE FALLEN ACROSS THE ROAD (TO HEAR US TALK) by ROBERT FROST THE BATTLE OF CHARLESTON HARBOR by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE ORANGE BUDS BY MAIL FROM FLORIDA by WALT WHITMAN |