Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume V. Nature. 1904. | | | | VII. The Sea | | The Sea | | Bernard Barton (1784–1849) |
| | | BEAUTIFUL, sublime, and glorious; | |
| Mild, majestic, foaming, free,— | |
| Over time itself victorious, | |
| Image of eternity! | |
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| Sun and moon and stars shine o’er thee, | 5 |
| See thy surface ebb and flow, | |
| Yet attempt not to explore thee | |
| In thy soundless depths below. | |
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| Whether morning’s splendors steep thee | |
| With the rainbow’s glowing grace, | 10 |
| Tempests rouse, or navies sweep thee, | |
| ’T is but for a moment’s space. | |
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| Earth,—her valleys and her mountains, | |
| Mortal man’s behests obey; | |
| The unfathomable fountains | 15 |
| Scoff his search and scorn his sway. | |
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| Such art thou, stupendous Ocean! | |
| But, if overwhelmed by thee, | |
| Can we think, without emotion, | |
| What must thy Creator be? | 20 | | | |
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