Classic Poem

Why does the land cease here? Determinedly,
Quietly it decides, and thus devolves:
Such motionless, such stark unhesitancy
Troubles the dreams in me
Like sudden and invincible resolves.

The miracle of water, always wrought,
Stability which silent fish believe,
Limits beyond our breath, valleys uncaught,
Burden mistrustful thought
With senses how that bosom could deceive.

Man's life should be by water; if its course
May slide more easily in folly and haste,
'Tis kindly lost, bubbles betray no source;
If wise by grace and force,
Better a thing so trivial be effaced.

The serried noses of unready ships
Peer out like lurking rats from rifts of stone:
Are these the leaning birds of fledgy tips
That, loosed, with shivers and dips
Depart by separate oceans and alone?

Let me enlarge the world and know what verge
Escapes this mask of earth for balance thrown:
And I would seek how alien laws can urge
Fearless recoiling surge
Against surrounding rhythms to obey the moon.

Embark, my heart: the lip of all the land
Is under flamelets that outline the dark;
Lost figures with white vacant faces stand,
Hand moves to hidden hand;
Rope slips, the near thwart sinks . . . My heart, embark.