I hied me to the ocean-side; br Its waves rolled bright and high; br Upon its waters, spreading wide, br I gazed with beaming eye. br At last, at last, I said, is found br A charm to banish pain,-- br Here, where the sprightly billows bound br Athwart the heaving main. br br The pebbly beach I wandered o'er br At morn and evening's hour, br Or listening to the breakers' roar, br Or wondering at their power. br Beneath their din I madly sought, br With ev'ry nerve bestirred, br To drown for aye the demon, thought,-- br But, ah! he would be heard. br br He found a voice my ear to reach, br To pierce my aching breast, br In every wave that swept the beach br With proud, defiant crest. br And when the moon, with silver light, br Smiled o'er the waters blue, br It seemed to say 'There's nothing bright br O'er all this earth for you.' br br Scarce half a moon have I been here, br Beside the sounding sea, br In hope its echoings in my ear br Might drown out memory; br Or might instil some vital life br Into this feeble frame, br Long spent and wasted by the strife br Wide-wrought against my name. br br In vain, in vain!--nor sea, nor shore, br Nor any mortal thing, br Can to my cheek health's bloom restore, br Or clear my life's well-spring. br And yet there is a sea whose waves br Will roll above us all,-- br Within its vasty depths are graves br Beyond all mortal call.