Life's Circumnavigators By Louis MacNeice

Life's Circumnavigators

By Louis MacNeice (Ireland, 1907-1963)

Here, where the taut wave hangs

Its tented tons, we steer

Through rocking arch of eye

And creaking reach of ear,

Anchored to flying sky,

And chained to changing fear.

O when shall we, all spent,

Row in to some far strand,

And find, to our content,

The original land

From which our boat once went,

Though not the one we planned.

Us on that happy day

This fierce sea will release,

On our rough face of clay,

The final glaze of peace.

Our oars we all will lay

Down, and desire will cease.