| Higginson and Bigelow, comps. American Sonnets. 1891. | | | | “As happy dwellers by the sea-side hear” | | By Celia (Laighton) Thaxter (1835–1894) |
| | | AS happy dwellers by the sea-side hear | |
| In every pause the sea’s mysterious sound, | |
| The infinite murmur, solemn and profound, | |
| Incessant, filling all the atmosphere, | |
| Even so I hear you, for you do surround | 5 |
| My newly-waking life, and break for aye | |
| About the viewless shores, till they resound | |
| With echoes of God’s greatness night and day. | |
| Refreshed and glad I feel the full flood-tide | |
| Fill every inlet of my waiting soul, | 10 |
| Long-striving, eager hope, beyond control, | |
| For help and strength at last is satisfied, | |
| And you exalt me, like the sounding sea, | |
| With ceaseless whispers of eternity. | | | | |
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