Page:Poems of nature, Thoreau, 1895.djvu/42

18 Who on the ocean's verge and firm land's end

Doth long and truly seek his Friend.

Many men dwell far inland,

But he alone sits on the strand.

Whether he ponders men or books,

Always still he seaward looks,

Marine news he ever reads,

And the slightest glances heeds,

Feels the sea breeze on his cheek,

At each word the landsmen speak,

In every companion's eye

A sailing vessel doth descry;

In the ocean's sullen roar

From some distant port he hears,

Of wrecks upon a distant shore,

And the ventures of past years.