Page:Poems Denver.djvu/79

The dark expanse of waters. Motionless,
Like to a human being turned to stone,
Whose heart was throbbing its last feeling out,
In painful consciousness within his breast,
He sat upon a rock that faced the spot,
Where last he saw the vessel disappear.
Return, thou truant of the sea, return!
What strength but thine, can break the spell that binds,
Soul, sense, and motion in its subtle folds!

Morn broke upon the ocean! star by star,
Gazed for a moment with retiring glance,
Upon the gay young visitant and withdrew,
Behind their drapery of shining clouds,
Till the next night should call them forth again,
To their accustomed watch—yet brought she not,
The wished-for object to his straining eye.

Then the full sense of utter loneliness,
That his proud spirit would not comprehend
Before, came rushing with unmeasured force
Into his heart. He was, indeed, alone!
Ah! who, even though the world is full of sin,
Though falsehood walks about in robes of state,
And truth is seldom found, would be alone?
No, rather let the sword oppose the sword,
Man needs another foeman than himself,
He may throw back the exulting tide of war,
May stem the current on the battle field,