Classic Poem

The lake has burst! The lake has burst!
Down through the chasms the wild waves flee:
They gallop along
With a roaring song,
Away to the eager awaiting sea!

Down through the valleys, and over the rocks,
And over the forests the flood runs free;
And wherever it dashes,
The oaks and the ashes
Shrink, drop, and are borne to the hungry sea!

The cottage of reeds and the tower of stone,
Both shaken to ruin, at last agree;
And the slave and his master
In one wide disaster
Are hurried like weeds to the scornful sea!

The sea-beasThe tosseth his foaming mane;
He bellows aloud to the misty sky;
And the sleep-buried Thunder
Awakens in wonder,
And the Lightning opens her piercing eye!

There is death above, there is death around;
There is death wheresoever the waters be;
There is nothing now doing
Save terror and ruin,
On earth, and in air, and the stormy sea!