 | Later Poems |  |
37
I Think of You as of a Good Life-boat
I think of you as of a good life-boat
That, once a-launch, thrilled aye and throbbed to meet
The mastered waves against her bow to beat,
And leap to the great ocean full afloat,
Where, wild about the sharp rocks of the world,
There was a storm of angry spray upswirled,
As passionate hands, in wanhope's struggles fierce,
Beat the strong waves till foam arose on foam,
Yet drew them none the nearer life and home.
And oh, to save them from the loss and curse,
And snatch them from the moaning deep, and bring
Safe to the quiet place of sheltering!
That, once a-launch, thrilled aye and throbbed to meet
The mastered waves against her bow to beat,
And leap to the great ocean full afloat,
Where, wild about the sharp rocks of the world,
There was a storm of angry spray upswirled,
As passionate hands, in wanhope's struggles fierce,
Beat the strong waves till foam arose on foam,
Yet drew them none the nearer life and home.
And oh, to save them from the loss and curse,
And snatch them from the moaning deep, and bring
Safe to the quiet place of sheltering!
You have ceased to ride the storm, who breasted well
The dreadful surges and the tempest's swell;
Who brought the wrecked from terror of the sea
Into the haven where they fain would be.
Oh, well for you, and yet alas for me!The dreadful surges and the tempest's swell;
Who brought the wrecked from terror of the sea
Into the haven where they fain would be.
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