The Wrecked.
Dwelt, like a smile upon the lip
Of innocence asleep;
The light winged zephyrs gently swept
Sweet breathings o'er the sea
So lately parted by the strong
Wild plunge of agony;
But the lone sea bird flapped his wings
Above the laughing wave,
And screamed forth tales of tempest doom—
Death, and an ocean grave;
Of trembling hands, outstretched to hold
The shuddering heart from waters cold—
The dizzy brain and shivering breath,
When frenzied horror strove with death.
Of innocence asleep;
The light winged zephyrs gently swept
Sweet breathings o'er the sea
So lately parted by the strong
Wild plunge of agony;
But the lone sea bird flapped his wings
Above the laughing wave,
And screamed forth tales of tempest doom—
Death, and an ocean grave;
Of trembling hands, outstretched to hold
The shuddering heart from waters cold—
The dizzy brain and shivering breath,
When frenzied horror strove with death.
But all are sleeping calmly now—
The coward and the brave,
The earth-stained and the beautiful,
All shrouded' by the wave.
What forms of breathing loveliness,
What hearts of throbbing worth
Were laid in those cold depths, to leave
Grief-darkened homes for earth.
Ah, me!—but wherefore do we twine
Soul fibers round the dead—
The coward and the brave,
The earth-stained and the beautiful,
All shrouded' by the wave.
What forms of breathing loveliness,
What hearts of throbbing worth
Were laid in those cold depths, to leave
Grief-darkened homes for earth.
Ah, me!—but wherefore do we twine
Soul fibers round the dead—
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