Explore "Some Verses: Sonnets: THE BATTLE" by Helen Hay Whitney on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The pallid waves caress the paler sand, / Falter and tremble, then reluctant wane, / Fearing advance, yet venturing again.
Grey deep sea waves that never knew the land, / Tired with the tumult, stretch a crooked hand / To win a precious sweet surcease from pain, / But, glancing back upon the mighty main, / Perforce return to swell the strong command.
So fretful Life sees Death's cold sands and faints / To fling thereon the wearing of her wave, / Yet, turning ere she finds the gloomy shore, / Seeing ahead the idle senseless grave, / Behind -- the Kings, the Patriots and the Saints, / She sighing turns to face the fight once more.