Once upon Iceland's solitary strand A poet wandered with his book and pen, Seeking some final word, some sweet Amen, Wherewith to close the volume in his hand. The billows rolled and plunged upon the sand, The circling sea-gulls swept beyond his ken, And from the parting cloud-rack now and then Flashed the red sunset over sea and land. Then by the billows at his feet was tossed A broken oar; and carved thereon he read, "Oft was I weary, when I toiled at thee"; And like a man, who findeth what was lost, He wrote the words, then lifted up his head, And flung his useless pen into the sea. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GIFT TO SING by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN' by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR WHEN I'M KILLED by ROBERT RANKE GRAVES THE ROSY BOSOM'D HOURS by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE TO HIS HEART, BIDDING IT HAVE NO FEAR by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS PAN'S PIPING by ALCAEUS OF MESSENE EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 15. RATHER DEEDS THAN WORDS by PHILIP AYRES |