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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


CROSSING THE BAR' by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS

First Line: BEFORE THE MOANING BAR
Last Line: Returning safe from sea
Subject(s): SEA; DANGER; SURVIVAL;

Before the moaning bar,
The tumult of the sea;
Behind it. quiet waters and a star.
The harbor light ''" for me.

Long, long our broken boat
Has wandered in the waves,
Battling for life amid the wrecks afloat
Over the ocean graves.

But now impulsions strong
In sea and air combine
Mysteriously to hurry us along
Swift to the breaker line.

What heed of hidden rock
Where lurking demons are,
What memory of tempest's angry shock
When we have crossed the bar?

Oh, dear ones soon to meet!
Oh, heaven's tranquillity!
We shall fall down and kiss our Captain's feet,
Returning safe from sea.



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