| MARINER, what of the deep? | |
| This of the deep: | |
| Twilight is there, and solemn, changeless calm; | |
| Beauty is there, and tender healing balm— | |
| Balm with no root in earth, or air, or sea, | 5 |
| Poised by the finger of God, it floateth free, | |
| And, as it threads the waves, the sound doth rise,— | |
| Hither shall come no further sacrifice; | |
| Never again the anguished clutch at life, | |
| Never again great Love and Death in strife; | 10 |
| He who hath suffered all, need fear no more, | |
| Quiet his portion now, for evermore. | |
| |
| Mariner, what of the deep? | |
| This of the deep: | |
| Solitude dwells not there, though silence reign; | 15 |
| Mighty the brotherhood of loss and pain; | |
| There is communion past the need of speech, | |
| There is a love no words of love can reach; | |
| Heavy the waves that superincumbent press, | |
| But as we labour here with constant stress, | 20 |
| Hand doth hold out to hand not help alone, | |
| But the deep bliss of being fully known. | |
| There are no kindred like the kin of sorrow, | |
| There is no hope like theirs who fear no morrow. | |
| |
| Mariner, what of the deep? | 25 |
| This of the deep: | |
| Though we have travelled past the line of day, | |
| Glory of night doth light us on our way, | |
| Radiance that comes we know not how nor whence, | |
| Rainbows without the rain, past duller sense, | 30 |
| Music of hidden reefs and waves long past, | |
| Thunderous organ tones from far-off blast, | |
| Harmony, victrix, throned in state sublime, | |
| Couched on the wrecks be-gemmed with pearls of time; | |
| Never a wreck but brings some beauty here; | 35 |
| Down where the waves are stilled the sea shines clear; | |
| Deeper than life the plan of life doth lie, | |
| He who knows all, fears naught. Great Death shall die. | |
