 | Studies of Sensation and Event |  |
123
THE SUICIDE.
Life is an island; and eternity's sea
That girds it round,
Rolleth for ever, vast and gloomily,
With doubtful sound,
Save when it stormeth up tempestuously,
Lashing the ground.
That girds it round,
Rolleth for ever, vast and gloomily,
With doubtful sound,
Save when it stormeth up tempestuously,
Lashing the ground.
Voices are mingled with the rolling waters,
Unearthly sweet;
They fascinate the island sons and daughters,
In bands to meet,
And listen, heeding not the wrecks and slaughters,
Rolled to their feet.
Unearthly sweet;
They fascinate the island sons and daughters,
In bands to meet,
And listen, heeding not the wrecks and slaughters,
Rolled to their feet.
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Some walk before this sea with restless wings,
Strong to dare
The chilling mist its heavy rolling flings;
With forehead bare,
And flashing brow, resistless genius springs
Undaunted there.
Strong to dare
The chilling mist its heavy rolling flings;
With forehead bare,
And flashing brow, resistless genius springs
Undaunted there.
A naked youth came bounding to its shore,
Shouting out loud;
But when he heard the interminable roar,
His spirit bowed
One moment, and the next it strove to soar
Unchecked and proud.
Shouting out loud;
But when he heard the interminable roar,
His spirit bowed
One moment, and the next it strove to soar
Unchecked and proud.
Upon his feet and shoulders wings were waving
Widely and fast;
Over the quiet country he was leaving,
One look he cast
Of contempt beautiful, and godlike craving;
Sweet voices passed,
Widely and fast;
Over the quiet country he was leaving,
One look he cast
Of contempt beautiful, and godlike craving;
Sweet voices passed,
Out from the sea, towards him richly ringing;
He hails their tone;
To explore the deep, the mighty child is winging;
Oh! not alone;
Concealed syrens toss there wildest singing,
While golden spray is thrown.
He hails their tone;
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Oh! not alone;
Concealed syrens toss there wildest singing,
While golden spray is thrown.
Rushing back came the youth with drooping plume;
His strength was gone;—
He stands again before the unthridden gloom,
And still its moan,
Wails to him burning melodies, that consume
Him there alone.
His strength was gone;—
He stands again before the unthridden gloom,
And still its moan,
Wails to him burning melodies, that consume
Him there alone.
His frenzied eye read the eternal ocean;
His pale lips gave
Echoings to its inscrutable commotion;
His speech did rave
Language unknown; glancing sublime devotion
He passed beneath the wave.
His pale lips gave
Echoings to its inscrutable commotion;
His speech did rave
Language unknown; glancing sublime devotion
He passed beneath the wave.
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