A bitter remorse for the past and the present
Sweeps over his soul as he faces his doom,
And with one last look upward, one low-breathed petition,
He welcomes the breakers and owns them his tomb.
Sweeps over his soul as he faces his doom,
And with one last look upward, one low-breathed petition,
He welcomes the breakers and owns them his tomb.
As the eagles exultantly sweep o'er their victim,
So the surges triumphantly hurl him from sight,
And over the spot where a thousand had struggled,
The waves in a transport of victory unite.
So the surges triumphantly hurl him from sight,
And over the spot where a thousand had struggled,
The waves in a transport of victory unite.
Around their lone graves no sad mourners shall gather,
To bring floral offerings glistening with tears,
But the blue waves shall wreathe graceful anchors and crosses
Of seaweed and coral to lay on their bier.
To bring floral offerings glistening with tears,
But the blue waves shall wreathe graceful anchors and crosses
Of seaweed and coral to lay on their bier.
No dirges shall echo through aisles and through arches,
No gravestones for these shall stand lonely and grim;
But sleeping with those who sank long years before them,
The surges shall chant their funeral hymn.
No gravestones for these shall stand lonely and grim;
But sleeping with those who sank long years before them,
The surges shall chant their funeral hymn.
We might weep for the weak could we catch for a moment
A glimpse of the pearls in the sea's hidden crown,
Where clasped to the heart of the faithless and friendless,
A little gold band and a ringlet went down.
A glimpse of the pearls in the sea's hidden crown,
Where clasped to the heart of the faithless and friendless,
A little gold band and a ringlet went down.
[ 524 ]
