Mineeyesaresoconfused,Mycheekitissopale,Myheadissobemused,Arealmoffairy—tale。
  Iwanted,boldlydaring,Sea—goingwaystofollow,Whereathousandcragsrisesoaring,AndFloodsflowbleakandhollow。
  IclungtoThoughthigh—soaring,Onitstwowingsdidride,Andthoughstormwindswereroaring,AlldangerIdefied。
  Ididnotfalterthere,ButeverondidpressWiththewildeagle'sstareOnjourneyslimitless。
  AndthoughtheSirenspinsHermusicsoendearingWherebytheheartshewins——
  Igavethatsoundnohearing。
  IturnedawaymineearFromthesweetsoundsIheard,MybosomdidaspireToaloftierreward。
  Alas,thewavesspedon,Atresttheywouldnotbe;
  TheresweptbymanyaoneTooswiftformetosee。
  WithmagicpowerandwordIcastwhatspellsIknew,Butforththewavesstillroared,Tilltheyweregonefromview。
  AndbytheFloodsorepressed,Anddizzyatthesight,ItumbledfromthathostIntothemistynight。
  AndwhenIroseagainFromfruitlesstoilatlast,Mypowersallweregone,Andalltheheart'sglowlostAndtrembling,pale,IlongGazedintomyownbreast;
  BynouplifitingsongWasmyafflictionblessed。
  Mysongswereflown,alack;
  ThesweetestArtwasgone——
  NoGodwouldgiveitbackNorGraceofDeathlessOne。
  TheFortresshadsunkdownThatoncesobolddidstand;
  Thefieryglowwasdrowned,Voidwasthebosom'sland。
  Thenshoneyourradiance,Thepurestlightofsoul,WhereinachangingdanceRoundEarththeHeavensroll。
  ThenwasIcaptivebound,Thenwasmyvisionclear,ForIhadtrulyfoundWhatmydarkstrivingswere。
  Soulrangmorestrong,morefree,Outofthedeep—stirredbreastIntriumphheavenly,Andinsheerhappiness。
  MyspiritsthenandthereSoared,jubilantandgay,And,likeasorcerer,TheircoursesdidIsway。
  Ileftthewavesthatrush,Thefloodsthatchangeandflow,Onthehighclifftocrash,Butsavedtheinnerglow。
  AndwhatmySoul,Fate—drivenNeverinflighto'ertook,Thattomyheartwasgiven,Wasgrantedbyyourlook。
  (writtenbetweenNovember1836andFebruary1837)