The Sea

“True, Waves will howl when, all day long

The Wind keeps piping loud and strong;

For in ship’s sails the wild Sea-Breeze

Pipes sweeter than your birds in trees;

But have no fear”—I laughed with joy,

“That you have lost a sea-gone boy.”

That night I saw ten thousand bones

Coffined in ships, in weeds and stones;

Saw how the Sea’s strong jaws could take

Big iron ships like rats to shake;

Heard him still moan his discontent

For one man or a continent.

I saw that woman go from place

To place, hungry for her child’s face;

I heard her crying, crying, crying;

Then, in a flash! saw the Sea trying,

With savage joy, and efforts wild,

To smash his rocks with a dead child.