Land-Locked

Celia Thaxter 1835 (Portsmouth) – 1894 (Appledore Island)



Black lie the hills; swiftly doth daylight flee;
And, catching gleams of sunset's dying smile,
Through the dusk land for many a changing mile
The river runneth softly to the sea.

O happy river, could I follow thee!
O yearning heart, that never can be still!
O wistful eyes, that watch the steadfast hill,
Longing for level line of solemn sea!

Have patience; here are flowers and songs of birds,
Beauty and fragrance, wealth of sound and sight,
All summer's glory thine from morn till night,
And life too full of joy for uttered words.

Neither am I ungrateful; but I dream
Deliciously how twilight falls to-night
Over the glimmering water, how the light
Dies blissfully away, until I seem

To feel the wind, sea-scented, on my cheek,
To catch the sound of dusky flapping sail
And dip of oars, and voices on the gale
Afar off, calling low, -- my name they speak!

O Earth! Thy summer song of joy may soar
Ringing to heaven in triumph. I but crave
The sad, caressing murmur of the wave
That breaks in tender music on the shore.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

57 sec read
134

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBA ACCA DEED FEEF GHHG IJJI
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,007
Words 188
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Celia Thaxter

Celia Laighton Thaxter was an American writer of poetry and stories. more…

All Celia Thaxter poems | Celia Thaxter Books

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    "Land-Locked" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/4857/land-locked>.

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