 | Later Lyrics |  |
255
A WILD NIGHT.
The storm is sweeping o'er the land,
And raging o'er the sea:
It urgeth sharp and dismal sounds,
The Psalm of Misery.
And raging o'er the sea:
It urgeth sharp and dismal sounds,
The Psalm of Misery.
The straining of the cordage now,
The creaking of a spar,
The deep dumb shock the vessel feels
When billows strike and jar,—
The creaking of a spar,
The deep dumb shock the vessel feels
When billows strike and jar,—
It breathes of distant seamen's hearts
That think upon their wives;
Of wretches clinging to the mast,
And wrestling for their lives.
That think upon their wives;
Of wretches clinging to the mast,
And wrestling for their lives.
256
The clouds are flying through the sky
Like spectres of affright:
Yon pale witch moon doth blast them all
With bleared and ghastly light.
Like spectres of affright:
Yon pale witch moon doth blast them all
With bleared and ghastly light.
Great Demons flutter through the dark
Flame touched, with dusky wing;
And Passion crouches out of sight
Like a forbidden thing.
Flame touched, with dusky wing;
And Passion crouches out of sight
Like a forbidden thing.
The blast doth scourge the forest through,
Great oaks, and bushes small;
And God, the fable of the fools,
Looks silently on all.
Great oaks, and bushes small;
And God, the fable of the fools,
Looks silently on all.
Oh! if He watches, as I know,
Safe let Him keep our rest,
And give my little ones and me
The shelter of His breast.
Safe let Him keep our rest,
And give my little ones and me
The shelter of His breast.
257
No harm shall come on earth, we trust;
But, if mischance must be,
Most let him help those weary souls
That struggle with the sea!
But, if mischance must be,
Most let him help those weary souls
That struggle with the sea!
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