Laughter of comrades, laughter . . . Faint, gay laughter of lovers, tinkle of glass and lass; Song from the shadowy dunes, the lighted, tremulous pier Lighted . . shadowy songs . . . Loud cold laughter of throngs By the Merry-go-round -- By the sea . . . Sound from the sea, and a sound That is like the sea -- Feet of men shuffling and passing, shuffling, shuffling and passing . . . O God, if Thou art, In my brain, in my breaking heart, Be known unto me! For I dread the sea, and a sound that echoes the sea -- Feet of men passing, passing, passing, passing away Day after day, day after lonely day . . . Whisper of lovers . . friendly hail to a friend . . . Yes, and the end -- ? Tender, difficult words . . or resonant, brave As the surge of a wave! -- now impotent, hushed, withdrawing . . . Raucous rowdies are cawing, Crows of the night . . . While the wail of a dwindling train Emerges, is lost again . . . O God, I am sick with fright! O God, God, if Thou art, Be known unto me! I am mad from this sea of sound that mimics the sea -- Feet of men shuffling and passing, passing away . . . Day after day . . . after day . . . . . | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 57. TRUE WOMAN, HER LOVE by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI OZYMANDIAS by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY THE PLEASURES OF IMAGINATION; A POEM. ENLARGED VERSION: BOOK 2 by MARK AKENSIDE PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 52. YA HAKK by EDWIN ARNOLD BOUTS RIMES IN PRAISE OF OLD MAIDS by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD ON THE DEATH OF COMMODORE OLIVER H. PERRY by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD |