Part 8 (1/2)

13.

As the waves of the numberless waters That the wind cannot number who guides Are the sons of the sh.o.r.e and the daughters Here lulled by the chime of the tides: And here in the press of them standing We know not if these or if we Live truliest, or anch.o.r.ed to landing Or drifted to sea.

14.

In the valley he named of decision No denser were mult.i.tudes met When the soul of the seer in her vision Saw nations for doom of them set; Saw darkness in dawn, and the splendour Of judgment, the sword and the rod; But the doom here of death is more tender And gentler the G.o.d.

15.

And gentler the wind from the dreary Sea-banks by the waves overlapped, Being weary, speaks peace to the weary From slopes that the tide-stream hath sapped; And sweeter than all that we call so The seal of their slumber shall be Till the graves that embosom them also Be sapped of the sea.

II.

1.

For the heart of the waters is cruel, And the kisses are dire of their lips, And their waves are as fire is to fuel To the strength of the sea-faring s.h.i.+ps, Though the sea's eye gleam as a jewel To the sun's eye back as he dips.

2.

Though the sun's eye flash to the sea's Live light of delight and of laughter, And her lips breathe back to the breeze The kiss that the wind's lips waft her From the sun that subsides, and sees No gleam of the storm's dawn after.

3.

And the wastes of the wild sea-marches Where the borderers are matched in their might-- Bleak fens that the sun's weight parches, Dense waves that reject his light-- Change under the change-coloured arches Of changeless morning and night

4.

The waves are as ranks enrolled Too close for the storm to sever: The fens lie naked and cold, But their heart fails utterly never: The lists are set from of old, And the warfare endureth for ever.

III.

1.

Miles, and miles, and miles of desolation!

Leagues on leagues on leagues without a change!

Sign or token of some eldest nation Here would make the strange land not so strange.

Time-forgotten, yea since time's creation, Seem these borders where the sea-birds range.

2.

Slowly, gladly, full of peace and wonder Grows his heart who journeys here alone.

Earth and all its thoughts of earth sink under Deep as deep in water sinks a stone.

Hardly knows it if the rollers thunder, Hardly whence the lonely wind is blown.

3.

Tall the plumage of the rush-flower tosses, Sharp and soft in many a curve and line Gleam and glow the sea-coloured marsh-mosses, Salt and splendid from the circling brine.

Streak on streak of glimmering seas.h.i.+ne crosses All the land sea-saturate as with wine.