| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
| |
| 1237. The Sea-Weed |
| | | By Elisabeth (Cabazza) Pullen |
| |
| |
| THE FLYING sea-bird mocked the floating dulse: | |
| “Poor wandering water-weed, where dost thou go, | |
| Astray upon the ocean’s restless pulse?” | |
| It said: “I do not know. | |
| |
| “At a cliff’s foot I clung and was content, | 5 |
| Swayed to and fro by warm and shallow waves; | |
| Along the coast the storm-wind raging went, | |
| And tore me from my caves. | |
| |
| “I am the bitter herbage of that plain | |
| Where no flocks pasture, and no man shall have | 10 |
| Homestead, nor any tenure there may gain | |
| But only for a grave. | |
| |
| “A worthless weed, a drifting, broken weed, | |
| What can I do in all this boundless sea? | |
| No creature of the universe has need | 15 |
| Or any thought of me.” | |
| |
| Hither and yonder, as the winds might blow, | |
| The sea-weed floated. Then a refluent tide | |
| Swept it along to meet a galleon’s prow— | |
| “Land ho!” Columbus cried. | 20 |
| |
|
|
|
