NEVER MORE SAILOR

By Walter de la Mare

Never more, Sailor,

Shall thou be

Tossed on the wind-ridden,

Restless sea.

Its tides may labour;

All the world

Shake‘ neath that weight

Of waters hurled:

But its whole shock

Can only stir

Thy dust to a quiet

Even quieter.

Thou mock'st at land

Who now art come

To such a small

And shallow home;

Yet bore the sea

Full many a care

For bones that once

A sailor's were.

And though the grave's

Deep soundlessness

Thy once sea-deafened

Ear distress,

No robin ever

On the deep

Hopped with his song

To haunt thy sleep.