Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume V. Nature. 1904. | | | | VII. The Sea | | The Wreck | | Lord Byron (1788–1824) |
| | From “Don Juan,” Canto II.
THEN rose from sea to sky the wild farewell— | |
| Then shrieked the timid, and stood still the brave,— | |
| Then some leaped overboard with dreadful yell, | |
| As eager to anticipate their grave; | |
| And the sea yawned around her like a hell, | 5 |
| And down she sucked with her the whirling wave, | |
| Like one who grapples with his enemy, | |
| And strives to strangle him before he die. | |
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| And first one universal shriek there rushed, | |
| Louder than the loud ocean, like a crash | 10 |
| Of echoing thunder; and then all was hushed, | |
| Save the wild wind and the remorseless dash | |
| Of billows; but at intervals there gushed, | |
| Accompanied with a convulsive splash, | |
| A solitary shriek, the bubbling cry | 15 |
| Of some strong swimmer in his agony. | | | | |
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