Translated by A. Z. Foreman - To the Sea lyrics

Unfettered element! Farewell Before me now one final time You roll again that skyblue swell, And sparkle with a pride sublime. Like an old friend's regretful sigh, Like calls of fare-you-well through tears, Your summoning sound, your sounding cry, One final time now fills my ears. Oh yes, my heart's desired reach! How often I in twilight went Quiet and dark along your beach, Wracked by a sacred deep intent Dear were the answers you would send, Dim primal sounds, the chasm's call The silences of eveningfall And those impulsive flights of wind. The humble sail of fishers' slips, With the protection of your mood, Bravely amid your watertips, But you, a Titan unsubdued, Roll rough and drown a herd of ships. 'Twas not my luck to leave the night Fallen on this dry stirless shore, To greet you, raptured into light, And make my grand poetic flight Across your crests forevermore You called... I was enthralled aground. Vainly my heart in shackles strained. By spells of potent pa**ion bound Beside the beaches I remained. What's to regret? Toward what far shoal Could I my madcap voyage chart? In all your open wilds, one goal Could still have power to strike my heart, One cliff...that sepulcher of glory There a chill slumber in the west Whelmed memories of a mighty story... There was Napoleon felled to rest. There rested he in tribulations. And, after him as thunder, rolls Yet one more genius of the nations, One more commander of our souls Leaving the world his wreath forever He vanished, grieved by liberty. Seethe! Sound! Blow wild with angry weather. He was your one true bard, O Sea. In him your spirit wrought its mark, In your own image was he framed Like you was potent, deep and dark. Like you, an element untamed. The world's a void. Now in that cold Whither, O Sea, would you with me? In every land one fate takes hold: Each drop of virtue is patrolled By technocrats...or tyranny So, Sea, farewell. I will recall Your august splendor all my years. Long shall your boom as evenings fall Sound and resound within my ears. To woods and hushful wastes, away Imbued anew with you, I bring Your gleam and shadow, cliff and bay, And your dear waves' blue rumoring.