Page:Kickerbocker Oct 1847 vol 30 no 4.djvu/11
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1847.]
A Dream of the Sea.
293
A DREAM OF THE SEA.
Methought in a storm my bark went down,
A thousand miles from the fair green shore,
When the vivid lightnings showed the frown
That sullen and dark-brow'd Midnight wore.
With piercing shriek, or with bubbling moan,
All slowly sunk in the deep, save me,
And left me on billows skyward thrown,
To wrestle alone with the great wide sea!
'Tis a fearful thing when the wings of night
Are throwing their shadows o'er the main,
And the glance of the Storm-King takes its flight,
Down, down, far down through the falling rain;
To ride on the howling Ocean's breast,
Like the trembling leaf on the wintry gale,
And hear as we mount on each billow's crest,
The black-wing'd Tempest o'er us sail!
'Tis a fearful thing on the deep to ride,
When no succor is near, no hand to save,
When ghosts of pirates are by your side,
And shriek in your ear as you mount each wave.
'T is a fearful thing, when the lamps of night
Are all blown out by the Storm-King's breath,
While o'er you it sweeps to meet in fight,
On his own black field, the spectre Death!
Methought on a spar I was tossed about,
Now hurled to the arch of the murky sky,
Whence wild and fierce came the demon's shout,
Who downward gazed with vengeful eye;
Then away, far down in the vast black main,
Which roared and yawned like an open tomb,
I sank, while Horror with all his train
Were hovering round to mock my doom!
Methought when the rising sun looked down
On the cheek of his bride, the fair young Day,
Which blushed like the poet's, when bright Renown
Hath pointed him out to the world for aye;
Nothing could be seen but the wide expanse
Of heaving waters wild and gray,
And in despair I turned my glance,
From the dreary, sickening sight away!
For weary days did the self-same scene,
The lone black Night, and the red bright Day,
Madden and wring me with anguish keen,
And my flesh was bleached with briny spray;
Till in deep despair I left my hold
Of the faithful spar, and sank far down,
In the depths of ocean, green and cold,
Till I stood in the streets of a lovely town.
A thousand miles from the fair green shore,
When the vivid lightnings showed the frown
That sullen and dark-brow'd Midnight wore.
With piercing shriek, or with bubbling moan,
All slowly sunk in the deep, save me,
And left me on billows skyward thrown,
To wrestle alone with the great wide sea!
'Tis a fearful thing when the wings of night
Are throwing their shadows o'er the main,
And the glance of the Storm-King takes its flight,
Down, down, far down through the falling rain;
To ride on the howling Ocean's breast,
Like the trembling leaf on the wintry gale,
And hear as we mount on each billow's crest,
The black-wing'd Tempest o'er us sail!
'Tis a fearful thing on the deep to ride,
When no succor is near, no hand to save,
When ghosts of pirates are by your side,
And shriek in your ear as you mount each wave.
'T is a fearful thing, when the lamps of night
Are all blown out by the Storm-King's breath,
While o'er you it sweeps to meet in fight,
On his own black field, the spectre Death!
Methought on a spar I was tossed about,
Now hurled to the arch of the murky sky,
Whence wild and fierce came the demon's shout,
Who downward gazed with vengeful eye;
Then away, far down in the vast black main,
Which roared and yawned like an open tomb,
I sank, while Horror with all his train
Were hovering round to mock my doom!
Methought when the rising sun looked down
On the cheek of his bride, the fair young Day,
Which blushed like the poet's, when bright Renown
Hath pointed him out to the world for aye;
Nothing could be seen but the wide expanse
Of heaving waters wild and gray,
And in despair I turned my glance,
From the dreary, sickening sight away!
For weary days did the self-same scene,
The lone black Night, and the red bright Day,
Madden and wring me with anguish keen,
And my flesh was bleached with briny spray;
Till in deep despair I left my hold
Of the faithful spar, and sank far down,
In the depths of ocean, green and cold,
Till I stood in the streets of a lovely town.