Midnight by the Sea

Waves of the wild North Sea,
Breaking--breaking--breaking!
From the dumb agony
Of dreams awaking,
How sweet within the loosened arms of sleep
To lie in silence deep,
Lone listening to your many-throated roar
Along the caverned shore,
In midnight darkness breaking--breaking--breaking!

Wind of the wild North Sea,
Calling--calling--calling!
What may your message be,
Rising and falling?
From out the infinite ye make reply:
“Whither? and whence? and why?”
And my soul echoes the despairing moan--
Which none can answer--none!--
From out its depths abysmal calling--calling--calling.