THE MIRACLES
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sent a message to my dear--A thousand leagues and more to her--The dumb sea-levels thrilled to hear,And lost Atlantis bore to her. Behind my message hard I came,And nigh had found a grave for me;But that I launched of steel and flameDid war against the wave for me. Uprose the deep, by gale on gale,To bid me change my mind again--He broke his teeth along my rail,And, roaring, swung behind again. I stayed the sun at noon to tellMy way across the waste of it;I read the storm before it fellAnd made the better haste of it. Afar, I hailed the land at night--The towers I built had heard of me--And, ere my rocket reached its height,Had flashed my Love the word of me. Earth gave her chosen men of strength(They lived and strove and died for me)To drive my road a nation's length,And toss the miles aside for me. I snatched their toil to serve my needs--Too slow their fleetest flew for me--I tired twenty smoking steeds,And bade them bait a new for me. I sent the lightnings forth to seeWhere hour by hour she waited me.Among ten million one was she,And surely all men hated me! Dawn ran to meet us at my goal--Ah, day no tongue shall tell again!--And little folk of little soulRose up to buy and sell again! V
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