Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MONMOUTH SANDS, by HENRY NEHEMIAH DODGE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MONMOUTH SANDS, by                    
First Line: On monmouth sands the full tides rise and fall
Last Line: And weave the lasting fabric of our life.
Subject(s): Seashore; Towns; Beach; Coast; Shore


On Monmouth sands the full tides rise and fall
Eternally in elemental might,
And now the queenly moon mounts over all,
And sheds her mystic glory on the night.
Listen! the surf is musical with chords,
Hymning the songs of human love and strife,
To whose sustained accompaniment my words
Would chant the rhythmic epic of our life.

The silvered path across the dark sea's plain
Shall be the symbol of the fretted way
Our longings take, the restlessness of brain
And heart, unsatisfied by night or day.

It ends beneath the moon's most distant beams
Where looms far out the unknown tossing sea;
The dark uncharted afterland of dreams
That mock the hopes of sad humanity.

And we must tread the path and face the dark,
And battle with the things that lie beyond,
Until outwearied we fall stiff and stark,
By death discharged from every mortal bond.

Your locks, brave heart, blow softly on my cheek,
Your trembling fingers nestle in my palm;
O! can it be that while the way we seek,
Perturbed, the ocean of your soul is calm?

Ah! yes, reflected in your eyes I see
The love that made the Universe to go;
And made our mighty wills, and set them free,
And made us fondly love each other so.

And if from Monmouth sands the path run far
That leads to other worlds or ceaseless strife,
Then love shall be the guiding hand and star,
And weave the lasting fabric of our life.





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