Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, STORM AND CALM; FROM THE ALBUM OF THE DUCHESS OF RUTLAND, by GEORGE CRABBE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

STORM AND CALM; FROM THE ALBUM OF THE DUCHESS OF RUTLAND, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: At sea when threatening tempests rise
Last Line: And bring me back the storm again.
Subject(s): Storms


AT sea when threatening tempests rise,
When angry winds the waves deform,
The seaman lifts to Heaven his eyes,
And deprecates the dreaded storm.
'Ye furious powers, no more contend;
Ye winds and seas, your conflict end;
And on the mild subsiding deep,
Let Fear repose and Terror sleep!'

At length the waves are hush'd in peace,
O'er flying clouds the sun prevails;
The weary winds their efforts cease,
And fill no more the flagging sails;
Fix'd to the deep the vessel rides
Obedient to the changing tides;
No helm she feels, no course she keeps,
But on the liquid marble sleeps.

Sick of a Calm the sailor lies,
And views the still, reflecting seas;
Or, whistling to the burning skies,
He hopes to wake the slumbering breeze:
The silent noon, the solemn night,
The same dull round of thoughts excite,
Till, tired of the revolving train,
He wishes for the Storm again.

Thus, when I felt the force of Love,
When all the passion fill'd my breast, --
When, trembling, with the storm I strove,
And pray'd, but vainly pray'd, for rest;
'Twas tempest all, a dreadful strife
For ease, for joy, for more than life:
'Twas every hour to groan and sigh
In grief, in fear, in jealousy.

I suffer'd much, but found at length
Composure in my wounded heart;
The mind attain'd its former strength,
And bade the lingering hopes depart;
Then Beauty smiled, and I was gay,
I view'd her as the cheerful day;
And if she frown'd, the clouded sky
Had greater terrors for mine eye.

I slept, I waked, and, morn and eve,
The noon, the night appear'd the same;
No thought arose the soul to grieve,
To me no thought of pleasure came;
Doom'd the dull comforts to receive
Of wearied passions still and tame. --
'Alas!' I cried, when years had flown --
'Must no awakening joy be known?
Must never Hope's inspiring breeze
Sweep off this dull and torpid ease --
Must never Love's all-cheering ray
Upon the frozen fancy play --
Unless they seize the passive soul,
And with resistless power control?
Then let me all their force sustain,
And bring me back the Storm again.





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