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Poem
January 22, 1831
Republican Herald
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A lyrical poem from an Irish magazine extolling the ocean's sublime power, its role in shipwrecks and the burial of riches and navies, the humility it inspires in humans, and its eternal might surpassing ancient cities, contrasted with human mortality and the soul's ultimate transcendence.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
SELECTED. FOR THE OCEAN.:
The following Anecdotes, on a truly sublime
and poetic subject, are from an Irish Magazine
Likeness of Heaven!
Agent of power!
Man is thy victim,
Shipwrecks thy dower
Spices and jewels
From valley and sea,
Armies and banners,
Are buried in thee!
What are the riches
Of Mexico's mines,
To the wealth that far down.
In thy deep waters shines?
The proud navies that cover
The conquering west-
Thou flingst them to death
With one heave of thy breast!
From the high hills that view
Thy wreck-making shore,
When the bride of the mariner
Shrieks at thy roar;
When, like lambs in the tempest
Or mews in the blast,
O'er thy ridge-broken billows
The canvass is cast
How humbling to one
With a heart and a soul,
To look on thy greatness
And list to its roll :
To think how that heart
In cold ashes shall be,
While the voice of Eternity
Rises from thee!
Yes! where are the cities
Of Thebes and of Tyre?
Swept from the nations
Like sparks from the fire!
The glory of Athens,
The splendor of Rome,
Dissolved and forever--
Like dew in thy foam.
But thou art almighty,
Eternal-sublime
Unweakened unwasted--
Twin-brother of Time !
Fleets, tempests, nor nations
Thy glory can bow :
As the stars first beheld thee,
Still chainless art thou!
But hold! when thy surges
No longer shall roll
And that firmament's length
Is drawn back like a scroll;
Then-then shall the spirit
That sighs by thee now,
Be more mighty-more lasting,
More chainless than thou.
The following Anecdotes, on a truly sublime
and poetic subject, are from an Irish Magazine
Likeness of Heaven!
Agent of power!
Man is thy victim,
Shipwrecks thy dower
Spices and jewels
From valley and sea,
Armies and banners,
Are buried in thee!
What are the riches
Of Mexico's mines,
To the wealth that far down.
In thy deep waters shines?
The proud navies that cover
The conquering west-
Thou flingst them to death
With one heave of thy breast!
From the high hills that view
Thy wreck-making shore,
When the bride of the mariner
Shrieks at thy roar;
When, like lambs in the tempest
Or mews in the blast,
O'er thy ridge-broken billows
The canvass is cast
How humbling to one
With a heart and a soul,
To look on thy greatness
And list to its roll :
To think how that heart
In cold ashes shall be,
While the voice of Eternity
Rises from thee!
Yes! where are the cities
Of Thebes and of Tyre?
Swept from the nations
Like sparks from the fire!
The glory of Athens,
The splendor of Rome,
Dissolved and forever--
Like dew in thy foam.
But thou art almighty,
Eternal-sublime
Unweakened unwasted--
Twin-brother of Time !
Fleets, tempests, nor nations
Thy glory can bow :
As the stars first beheld thee,
Still chainless art thou!
But hold! when thy surges
No longer shall roll
And that firmament's length
Is drawn back like a scroll;
Then-then shall the spirit
That sighs by thee now,
Be more mighty-more lasting,
More chainless than thou.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Nature Seasons
Death Mourning
Religious Faith
What keywords are associated?
Ocean Power
Shipwrecks
Eternity
Sublime Nature
Human Mortality
Ancient Cities
What entities or persons were involved?
From An Irish Magazine
Poem Details
Title
For The Ocean
Author
From An Irish Magazine
Subject
Tribute To The Ocean's Power And Eternity
Key Lines
Likeness Of Heaven! / Agent Of Power! / Man Is Thy Victim, / Shipwrecks Thy Dower
But Thou Art Almighty, / Eternal Sublime / Unweakened Unwasted / Twin Brother Of Time !
Then Then Shall The Spirit / That Sighs By Thee Now, / Be More Mighty More Lasting, / More Chainless Than Thou.