MUSINGS ON THE ROCKS AT NAHANT.
What pleasing, solemn awe the soul subdues,
When first upon the sounding shore,
Ocean's blue, trembling waves it views,
And listens to their sullen roar;—
When first upon the sounding shore,
Ocean's blue, trembling waves it views,
And listens to their sullen roar;—
Or sees them 'mid the storm with strife sublime,
Lashing the flinty, beetling rocks;
Whose iron scowl defies the power of time,
And ocean's foaming fury mocks.
Lashing the flinty, beetling rocks;
Whose iron scowl defies the power of time,
And ocean's foaming fury mocks.
What fearful joy on jutting crag to stand,
Till the inspired, expanding mind
Sees Him who holds the waters in his hand,
And rides upon the winged wind.
Till the inspired, expanding mind
Sees Him who holds the waters in his hand,
And rides upon the winged wind.
And, O, with one we dearly love, how sweet,
Silent to sit the livelong day,
And watch the billows breaking at our feet,
And, breathless, feel the sprinkling spray!
Silent to sit the livelong day,
And watch the billows breaking at our feet,
And, breathless, feel the sprinkling spray!
How swiftly earth-born passions die away,
While gazing on the boundless sea;
Forgetting life's poor, transient, fev'rish day,
The thoughts are in eternity.
While gazing on the boundless sea;
Forgetting life's poor, transient, fev'rish day,
The thoughts are in eternity.
