Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE UNRETURNING, by CARROLL RYAN



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE UNRETURNING, by                     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.





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