Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE UNRETURNING, by CARROLL RYAN Poet's Biography First Line: Drifting, drifting, drifting Last Line: Songs of the broken hearted. Alternate Author Name(s): Ryan, William Thomas Carroll Subject(s): Farewell; Sailing & Sailors; Ships & Shipping; Parting | ||||||||
Drifting, drifting, drifting Down a mighty river Where, the moonbeams, rifting Craggy cloud-isles quiver On the stream, like a dream, Dark before and after, Flies a bark through the dark Whither winds may waft her. From the mist-encircled shore, As she glides along, Voices come that never more Will blend in earthly song. Stay, O stay another day! Why depart, O ship, so soon? Wait the hopeful morning ray, Nor in darkness steal away 'Neath the storm-foreboding moon. Many of our hopes thou bearest, Many of our fears thou sharest, And the dangers that thou darest On the ocean sailing, Are to us forsaken, sorrow For our souls of the to-morrow Can no consolation borrow Tears are unavailing. Stay! O, stay the morning light Ere our loved ones vanish Swiftly, swiftly from our sight Into silence, gloom and night. Why so glad to banish All that unto us are dearest, All that unto us are nearest? Night of nights that is the drearest For the souls departing. While upon the water rocking Evil spirits round thee flocking, Are with antic gestures mocking Thy unhappy starting. Stay, O ship! the rising sun. Let us see the faces Of the ones belov'd undone. Of the voyage thou'st begun Leave us some sad traces; For there is no port for thee This side of eternity And the undiscovered sea Whither thou art tending Gives no hope of thy returning; Though our hearts with love are burning And, amid despairing, yearning For a love unending!" Gloriously, gloriously The sun shone on the river, And its glad beams blending On the waters quiver. Like a dream from the stream The ship had long departed; From the shore came no more Songs of the broken hearted. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE THREE CHILDREN by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN STUDY #2 FOR B.B.L. by JUNE JORDAN WATCHING THE NEEDLEBOATS AT SAN SABBA by JAMES JOYCE |
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