Flower Pieces and other poems By William Allingham: With two designs by Dante Gabriel Rossetti |
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THE LIGHTHOUSE. |
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 | Flower Pieces and other poems |  |
100
THE LIGHTHOUSE.
The plunging storm flies fierce against the pane,
And thrills our cottage with redoubled shocks;
The chimney mutters and the rafters strain;
Without, the breakers roar along the rocks.
And thrills our cottage with redoubled shocks;
The chimney mutters and the rafters strain;
Without, the breakers roar along the rocks.
See, from our fire and taper-lighted room,
How savage, pitiless, and uncontroll'd
The grim horizon shows its tossing gloom
Of waves from unknown angry gulfs uproll'd;
How savage, pitiless, and uncontroll'd
The grim horizon shows its tossing gloom
Of waves from unknown angry gulfs uproll'd;
Where, underneath that black portentous lid,
A long pale space between the night and sea
Gleams awful; while in deepest darkness hid
All other things in our despair agree.
A long pale space between the night and sea
Gleams awful; while in deepest darkness hid
All other things in our despair agree.
But lo! what star amid the thickest dark
A soft and unexpected dawn has made?
O welcome Lighthouse, thy unruffled spark,
Piercing the turmoil and the deathly shade!
A soft and unexpected dawn has made?
O welcome Lighthouse, thy unruffled spark,
Piercing the turmoil and the deathly shade!
By such a glimpse o'er the distracted wave
Full many a soul to-night is re-possest
Of courage and of order, strong to save;
And like effect it works within my breast.
Full many a soul to-night is re-possest
Of courage and of order, strong to save;
And like effect it works within my breast.
101
Three faithful men have set themselves to stand
Against all storms that from the sky can blow,
Where peril must expect no aiding hand,
And tedium no relief may hope to know.
Against all storms that from the sky can blow,
Where peril must expect no aiding hand,
And tedium no relief may hope to know.
Nor shout they, passing brothers to inform
What weariness they feel, or what affright;
But tranquilly in solitude and storm
Abide from month to month, and show their light.
What weariness they feel, or what affright;
But tranquilly in solitude and storm
Abide from month to month, and show their light.
| Flower Pieces and other poems | |