Waves of the wild North Sea,
Breaking—breaking—breaking!
From the dumb agony
Of dreams awaking,
How sweet within the loosened arms of sleep
To lie in silence deep,
Lone listening to your many-throated roar
Along the caverned shore,
In midnight darkness breaking—breaking—breaking!

Wind of the wild North Sea,
Calling—calling—calling!
What may your message be,
Rising and falling?
From out the infinite ye make reply:
“Whither? and whence? and why?”
And my soul echoes the despairing moan—
Which none can answer—none!—
From out its depths abysmal calling—calling—calling.