Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON A POEM CROSSING THE ATLANTIC, by LEWIS MORRIS (1833-1907)


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON A POEM CROSSING THE ATLANTIC, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A little sheaf of words I speed
Last Line: And lifted on celestial wings.
Subject(s): Sea Voyages


A LITTLE sheaf of words I speed
Across the storm-vext wintry wave,
Not knowing if 'twill float, indeed,
Or find in grisly depths a grave.

Tossed, on the vast Atlantic deep
It ventures; icebergs from the north
Assail it, blinding sea-mists creep --
Through all it flies undaunted forth.

The strong ship heels beneath the blast,
The giant engines throb and thrill,
That mighty heart beats fiercely still
Till the long enterprise is past.

And with it done, the little scroll
This hand has written, from the sea
Is born, with some faint trace of me,
A child begotten of the soul.

Then if at length some joy it give
To souls by life's great load opprest,
Cheer some poor fainting heart to live,
Or bring some weary traveller rest,

More than the meed of gold or fame
Or honour to my soul it brings,
For now it speaks with lips of flame,
And lifted on celestial wings.





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