With argosies of dawn he sails, <br />And triremes of the dusk, <br />The Seas of Song, whereon the gales <br />Are myths that trail wild musk. <br /> <br />He hears the hail of Siren bands <br />From headlands sunset-kissed; <br />The Lotus-eaters wave pale hands <br />Within a land of mist. <br /> <br />For many a league he hears the roar <br />Of the Symplegades; <br />And through the far foam of its shore <br />The Isle of Sappho sees. <br /> <br />All day he looks, with hazy lids, <br />At gods who cleave the deep; <br />All night he hears the Nereids <br />Sing their wild hearts asleep. <br /> <br />When heaven thunders overhead, <br />And hell upheaves the Vast, <br />Dim faces of the ocean's dead <br />Gaze at him from each mast. <br /> <br />He but repeats the oracle <br />That bade him first set sail; <br />And cheers his soul with, 'All is well! <br />Go on! I will not fail.' <br /> <br />Behold! he sails no earthly bark <br />And on no earthly sea, <br />Who down the years into the dark,- <br />Divine of destiny,- <br /> <br />Holds to his purpose,-ships of Greece,- <br />Ideal-steered afar, <br />For whom awaits the Golden Fleece, <br />The fame that is his star.<br /><br />Madison Julius Cawein<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/argonauts/
