University of Virginia Library

Search this document 

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
expand sectionV. 
expand sectionVI. 
expand sectionVII. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 
expand sectionX. 
collapse sectionXI. 
expand section 
expand section 
collapse section 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
expand section 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
 XV. 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section 
expand section 
  
  
expand section 
expand section 
  
  
  
  
  
expand section 
expand section 
  
  


246

“THE MIGHTY MANY-SOUNDING ENGLISH SEA”

The mighty many-sounding English sea
Forgets to love its moon and worships thee;
The English meadows, by thy beauty won,
Dream in thy glances and forget the sun;
The English dales, and dells of deep-green gloom,
Beneath thy footing tremble into bloom;
The morning follows thee; the wondering night
Forgets its stars—for are not thine eyes bright?
The English summer wind must tune its lute,
Love, at thy voice,—or be for ever mute;
The laughter in the branches of the pine
Was never lovely till it copied thine;
An English poet loves thee,—and his heart
For ever singing sings how small a part,
How frail a fragment, of thy beauty's soul;
Can mortal foot attain love's timeless goal?
Can mortal strength avail to worship thee
Who hast the sweetness of Eternity?