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46
STORM AND TEMPEST.
The gale thunders on the roof;
The raindrops splash the wall;
And the stars shine far aloof;
And God sees all.
The raindrops splash the wall;
And the stars shine far aloof;
And God sees all.
Through the rack of flying cloud
The watery moon wades on,
And the lime trees whisper loud;
The brief day is gone.
The watery moon wades on,
And the lime trees whisper loud;
The brief day is gone.
Within the lamp is lit,
And the fire burns red and warm,
And I ponder as I sit,
Glad and free from harm.
And the fire burns red and warm,
And I ponder as I sit,
Glad and free from harm.
Strange that the driving cloud
Doth not stay my merriment!
When the wind pipes thin and loud,
I am most content.
Doth not stay my merriment!
When the wind pipes thin and loud,
I am most content.
Out on the plunging sea
The frail boats dip and spin;
Where the cliffs tower drearily
O'er the breakers' din.
The frail boats dip and spin;
Where the cliffs tower drearily
O'er the breakers' din.
47
Men hold their breath for fear
Of the shrieking hissing foam,
Wonder if day be near,
And think of home.
Of the shrieking hissing foam,
Wonder if day be near,
And think of home.
One on the reeling deck
Gasps at the thundering wind;
Dreaming of death and wreck,
And what lies behind.
Gasps at the thundering wind;
Dreaming of death and wreck,
And what lies behind.
The boy by the gunwale stands
Watching his father's face;
The wheel jerks in his hands,
In the roaring race.
Watching his father's face;
The wheel jerks in his hands,
In the roaring race.
They wish, but dare not pray,
Weary and tempest-tost,
The word they dare not say
Would confess them lost.
Weary and tempest-tost,
The word they dare not say
Would confess them lost.
And I sit idly here
Watching the embers fall,
And they are sick with fear,
And God sees all.
Watching the embers fall,
And they are sick with fear,
And God sees all.
Eton, 1891.
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