Sea-Side Thoughts

Beautiful, sublime, and glorious;
Mild, majestic, foaming, free; —
Over time itself victorious,
Image of eternity.

Epithet-exhausting Ocean!
'Twere as easy to controul
In the storm thy billowy motion,
As thy wonders to unrol.

Sun, and moon, and stars shine o'er thee,
See thy surface ebb, and flow;
Yet attempt not to explore thee
In thy soundless depths below.

Whether morning's splendours steep thee
With the rainbow's glowing grace; —
Tempests rouse, or navies sweep thee,
'Tis but for a moment's space.

Earth — her valleys, and her mountains,
Mortal man's behests obey;
Thy unfathomable fountains
Scoff his search, and scorn his sway.

Such art thou — stupendous Ocean!
But if overwhelm'd by thee,
Can we think without emotion
What must thy Creator be?