STANZAS BY THE SEA-SIDE.
Beautiful Ocean, how I loved thy face
When mine was fresh and sparkling as thine own
When my bold footstep took its toppling place,
To see thee rise upon thy rock-piled throne.
When mine was fresh and sparkling as thine own
When my bold footstep took its toppling place,
To see thee rise upon thy rock-piled throne.
Oh how I loved thee, when I bent mine car
To listen to the rosy sea-shell's hum,
And stood in ecstasy of joyous fear,
Daring thy broad and bursting wave to come.
To listen to the rosy sea-shell's hum,
And stood in ecstasy of joyous fear,
Daring thy broad and bursting wave to come.
When my wild breast beat high to see thee leap
In stormy wrath around the beacon light:
And my eye danced to see thee swell and sweep,
Like a blind lion, wasting all thy might.
In stormy wrath around the beacon light:
And my eye danced to see thee swell and sweep,
Like a blind lion, wasting all thy might.
I loved thee when, upon the shingle stones,
I heard thy glassy ripples steal and drip,
With the soft gush and gently murmur'd tones
That dwell upon an infant's gurgling lip.
I heard thy glassy ripples steal and drip,
With the soft gush and gently murmur'd tones
That dwell upon an infant's gurgling lip.
I loved thee with a childish, dreaming zeal,
That gazed in rapture and adored with soul;
And my proud heart, that stood like temper'd steel
Before harsh words, melted beneath thy roll.
That gazed in rapture and adored with soul;
And my proud heart, that stood like temper'd steel
Before harsh words, melted beneath thy roll.
Thou wert a part of God; and I could find
Almighty tidings in thy mystic speech:
Thou couldst subdue my strangely wayward mind:
And tune the string no other hand could reach.
Almighty tidings in thy mystic speech:
Thou couldst subdue my strangely wayward mind:
And tune the string no other hand could reach.
366
