At Sea by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem explores the theme of a sailor's longing for home and his wife. The speaker describes the sea as a vast and unforgiving environment that separates him from loved ones. He expresses his desire to return to shore, where he can be reunited with his wife and experience the comfort and security of domestic life.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1888 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Religious · 146 words
First lines
O we go down to sea in ships -- But Hope remains behind, And Love, with laughter on his lips, And Peace, of passive mind; While out across the deeps of night, With lifted sails of prayer, We voyage off in quest of light, Nor find it anywhere.
O Thou who wroughtest earth and sea, Yet keepest from our eyes The shores of an eternity In calms of Paradise, Blow back upon our foolish quest With all the driving rain Of blinding tears and wild unrest, And waft us home again.
What this Textopian page supports
At Sea is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Religious, Nautical, Romantic
- Length: 146 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a rhythmic and lyrical quality.
- Philosophical — Explores themes of existential quest and the search for meaning.
- Religious — Contains references to divine intervention and spiritual longing.
- Nautical — Utilizes maritime imagery and the metaphor of a sea voyage.
Tags
Poetry · Nautical · Sea · Nature · Imagery · Symbolism · Metaphor · Allegory · Fictionalized Nonfiction · Autobiographical Elements · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery