Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AFTER 1918, by HARRISON HIRES


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AFTER 1918, by                    
First Line: Into the gray mist I went dreaming
Last Line: The world from passion and madness spent.
Subject(s): Dreams; Sea; Sky; Thought; Nightmares; Ocean; Thinking


Into the gray mist I went dreaming,
Rose and fell with the swell of the sea.
The ribbon of foam from my boat's stem steaming
Was all that joined my country and me.
And I lay deep in a lethargy
Where passionate hate and love were not,
Nor any wretchedness any more.
Color and sound were both forgot,
And what with mad strength I had struggled for
Was now but a dream on a distant shore.

Soon with strange thoughts my mind was teeming;
Thought from the depths of me -- startling -- grave.
Was my liberty only seeming?
Was I more than a system's slave?
Slipping over each silent wave,
Somewhere out in eternity,
Now at last from the world relief!
Now for once there was only me,
Purged of all my hate and grief,
Purged of my ancient dear belief!

Out of the mist, then into the light
Where no land was on any side,
Both sky and sea were a peaceful white,
And I stood up and with full voice cried
Into the waves and they denied
Even an echo. Then I knew
What quiet was and what it meant
To look with clear calm eyes and view
(Oh the ranks of men with battle rent)
The world from passion and madness spent.





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