O WISH that's vainer than the plash Of these wave-whimsies on the shore: "Give us a pearl to fill the gash -- God, let our dead friend live once more!" O wish that's stronger than the stroke Of yelling wave and snapping levin; "God, lift us o'er the Last Day's smoke, All white, to Thee and her in Heaven!" O wish that's swifter than the race Of wave and wind in sea and sky; Let's take the grave-cloth from her face And fall in the grave, and kiss, and die! Look! High above a glittering calm Of sea and sky and kingly sun, She shines and smiles, and waves a palm -- And now we wish -- Thy will be done! MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, 1866. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: LAMBERT HUTCHINS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS BEARING LEAVES AGAIN by DAVID IGNATOW VENUS IN A GARDEN by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON FLUTE-PRIEST SONG FOR RAIN; CEREMONIAL AT THE SUN SPRING by AMY LOWELL THE SONG OF THE SHEPHERDS by EDWIN MARKHAM DOMESDAY BOOK: REV. PERCY FERGUSON by EDGAR LEE MASTERS TO WHISTLER, AMERICAN; ON LOAN EXHIBIT OF PAINTINGS AT TATE GALLERY by EZRA POUND |