Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, QUO ABEO?, by GEORGE HERBERT CLARKE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

QUO ABEO?, by                    
First Line: The flood flows down, the sails are spreading
Last Line: Alone, alone!
Subject(s): Faith; God; Life; Sailing & Sailors; Solitude; Travel; Belief; Creed; Seamen; Sails; Loneliness; Journeys; Trips


THE flood flows down, the sails are spreading,
The destined voyage must begin;—
A quiet farewell, and then, undreading,
I enter in.

But far at sea—"Sir Captain, shelter
Awaits us whither? What harbour saves?"—
Nor sound nor motion but the welter
Of heavy waves.

"Yet tell me—there shall be an ending?
Some port with hope of us is lit?
Within some haven we find friending?
Ah! teach me it!

"Captain, ... these seas ... are not uncharted?
We voyage not in blind amaze,
Growing forever fainter-hearted,
Unending days?"

No word—until I fall entreating:
"If here we wander evermore,
If there shall never be a meeting
Again, ashore—

"Oh, why the vessel, why the sailing?—
Sink we to rest beneath the sea,
Unsought, unlonging, unavailing,
No more to be!"

Silence—that stings me with the daring
To spring and seize that Shape unknown:
O God—'t is I with whom I'm faring
Alone, alone!





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