Poems (Spofford)/A Wreck
A WRECK.
They walked along the murmuring shore:
High was the tide, and near and wide
In flashing hints of iris tints
Each wave its splendid foam-wreath bore.
High was the tide, and near and wide
In flashing hints of iris tints
Each wave its splendid foam-wreath bore.
Faint in the purple east, and far,
One bending sail swelled on the gale;
The tide was full, but white as wool
The breakers combed beyond the bar.
One bending sail swelled on the gale;
The tide was full, but white as wool
The breakers combed beyond the bar.
They saw no breakers' angry bale
Lift into sight its deathly light;
They only saw the laughing flaw,
And all their hope was on the sail.
Lift into sight its deathly light;
They only saw the laughing flaw,
And all their hope was on the sail.
They walked again beside the shore:
The tide was down, the sands were brown,
And fleck on fleck of one great wreck
Strewed all its barren beauty o'er.
The tide was down, the sands were brown,
And fleck on fleck of one great wreck
Strewed all its barren beauty o'er.