THE SECRET OF THE SEA (HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW)

AH! WHAT PLEASANTL VISIONS HAUNT ME
AS I GAZE UPON THE SEA!
ALL THE OLD ROMANTIC LEGENDS,
ALL MY DREAMS, COME BACK TO ME.

SAILS OF SILK AND ROPES OF SANDAL,
SUCH AS GLEAM IN ACIENT LORE;
AND THE SINGING OF THE SAILORS
AND THE ANSWER FROM THE SHORE!

MOST OF ALL, THE SPANISH BALLAD
HAUNTS ME OFT, AND TRIES LONG,
OF THE NOBLE COUNT ARNALDOS
AND THE SAILOR'S MYSTIC SONG.

TELLING HOW THE COUNT ARNALDOS,
WITH THIS HAWK UPON HIS HAND,
SAW A FAIR AND STATELY GALLEY
STEERING ONWARD TO THE LAND;

HOW HE HEARD THE ANCIENT HELMSMAN
CHANT A SONG SO WILD AND CLEAR,
THAT THE SAILING SEA-BIRD SLOWLY
POISED UPON THE MAST TO HEAR.

TILL HIS SOUL WAS FULL OF LONGING
AND HE CRIED, WITH IMPULSE STRONG
HELMSMAN FOR THE LOVE OF HEAVEN
TEACH ME, TOO, THAT WONDROUS SONG!

WOULDST THOU --SO THE HELMSMAN ANSWERED--
LEARN THE SECRET OF TH SEA?
ONLY THOSE WHO BRAVE ITS DANGERS
COMPREHEND ITS MYSTERY!

IN EACH SAIL THAT SKIMS THE HORIZON
IN EACH LANDWARD-BLOWING BREEZE,
I BEHOLD THAT STATELY GALLEY,
HEAR THOSE MOURNFUL MELODIES.

TILL MY SOUL IS FULL OF LONGING
FOR THE SECRET OF THE SEA
AND THE HEART OF THE GREAT OCEAN
SENDS A THRILLING PULSE THROUGH ME.

(THIS POEM, IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE! AND I THOUGHT, IT'S PERFECT)