Nature

The Tides

by Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1850–1919

From Poems of Power (1903)

Nature

Be careful what rubbish you toss in the tide.
On outgoing billows it drifts from your sight,
But back on the incoming waves it may ride
And land at your threshold again before night.
Be careful what rubbish you toss in the tide.

Be careful what follies you toss in life’s sea.
On bright dancing billows they drift far away,
But back on the Nemesis tides they may be
Thrown down at your threshold an unwelcome day
Be careful what follies you toss in youth’s sea.

MLA

Wilcox, Ella Wheeler. “The Tides.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wilcox/918/.

Chicago

Wilcox, Ella Wheeler. “The Tides.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wilcox/918/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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