 | [Poems by Howells in] Poems of two friends |  |
114
DRIFTING AWAY.
As one whom seaward winds beat from the shore,
Sees all the land go from him out of sight,
And waits with doubtful heart the stooping night,
In some frail shallop without sail or oar,
Drifting away!
Sees all the land go from him out of sight,
And waits with doubtful heart the stooping night,
In some frail shallop without sail or oar,
Drifting away!
I ride forlorn upon the sea of life,
Far out and farther unto unknown deeps,
Down the dark gulfs and up the dizzy steeps,
Whirled in the tumult of the ocean strife,
Drifting away!
Far out and farther unto unknown deeps,
Down the dark gulfs and up the dizzy steeps,
Whirled in the tumult of the ocean strife,
Drifting away!
Like faint, faint lights, I see my old beliefs
Fade from me one by one, and shine no more;
Old loves, old hopes lie dead upon the shore,
Wept all about by ghosts of childhood griefs,
Drifting away!
Fade from me one by one, and shine no more;
Old loves, old hopes lie dead upon the shore,
Wept all about by ghosts of childhood griefs,
Drifting away!
O never more the happy land shall glow,
With the fair light of morning on mine eyes;
Upon its loftiest peak the sunset dies,
And night is in the peaceful vales below,
Drifting away!
With the fair light of morning on mine eyes;
Upon its loftiest peak the sunset dies,
And night is in the peaceful vales below,
Drifting away!
115
I rise and stretch my longing arms in vain,
And fold in void embraces on my breast
The nothing claspt, and with dim fears opprest,
Cry to the shores I shall not see again,
Drifting away!
And fold in void embraces on my breast
The nothing claspt, and with dim fears opprest,
Cry to the shores I shall not see again,
Drifting away!
| [Poems by Howells in] Poems of two friends | |