---

Paul Laurence Dunbar - On A Sea Wall
Work rating: Low

I sit upon the old sea wall,
    And watch the shimmering sea,
  Where soft and white the moonbeams fall,
    Till, in a fantasy,
  Some pure white maiden`s funeral pall
    The strange light seems to me.

  The waters break upon the shore
    And shiver at my feet,
  While I dream old dreams o`er and o`er,
    And dim old scenes repeat;
  Tho` all have dreamed the same before,
    They still seem new and sweet.

  The waves still sing the same old song
    That knew an elder time;
  The breakers` beat is not more strong,
    Their music more sublime;
  And poets thro` the ages long
    Have set these notes to rhyme.

  But this shall not deter my lyre,
    Nor check my simple strain;
  If I have not the old-time fire,
    I know the ancient pain:
  The hurt of unfulfilled desire,--
    The ember quenched by rain.

  I know the softly shining sea
    That rolls this gentle swell
  Has snarled and licked its tongues at me
    And bared its fangs as well;
  That `neath its smile so heavenly,
    There lurks the scowl of hell!

  But what of that? I strike my string
    (For songs in youth are sweet);
  I `ll wait and hear the waters bring
    Their loud resounding beat;
  Then, in her own bold numbers sing
    The Ocean`s dear deceit!
Source
The script ran 0.001 seconds.