Classic Poem

1

Rolling waters, tell me true,
Just how long you've ashed and rolled
Rolling waters deep and blue,
Really are you very old?

2

Rolling waters, I know you.
Yet, of you I am so afraid;
Tell me of the things you do
Tell me of the graves you've made.

3

Then the waters answered me,
" I was here ere God made man
The God of heaven named me " Sea "
And called your place of abode, land.

4

Upon my bosom fishes play,
Upon my bosom storms do ride
Within my bowels treasures lay
That I swallowed with fiendish pride.

5

I swallow ships, I swallow men;
I give them a bed upon my floor
To sleep and never wake again
'Til time shall cease and be no more.

6

Man is to rule all things on land,
Man can tame the lion bold;
But I wish man to understand
That o'er me, he has no control.

7

I leap, I dash, I rise and fall,
I allow your ships to ride my foam;
At times I am a chasm then a wall;
I obey God and God alone.

8

All men to me are just the same,
I treat the rich as I do the poor,
I care not for their wealth or fame
They are men to me and nothing more.

9

I leap, I dash, I rise and fall
I allow your ships to ride my foam;
I heed nobody's cry or call,
I obey God and God alone.