Against the enormous rocks of a rough coast br The ocean rams itself in pitched assault br And spastic rage to which there is no halt; br Foam-white brigades collapse; but the huge host br br Has infinite reserves; at each attack br The impassive cliffs look down in gray disdain br At scenes of sacrifice, unrelieved pain, br Figured in froth, aquamarine and black. br br Something in the blood-chemistry of life, br Unspeakable, impressive, undeterred, br Expresses itself without needing a word br In this sea-crazed Empedoclean Strife. br br It is a scene of unmatched melancholy, br Weather of misery, cloud cover of distress, br To which there are not witnesses, unless br One counts the briny, tough and thorned sea holly.