The night-flood rakes upon the stony shore; <br />Along the rugged cliffs and chalky caves <br />Mourns the hoarse Ocean, seeming to deplore <br />All that are buried in his restless waves— <br />Mined by corrosive tides, the hollow rock <br />Falls prone, and rushing from its turfy height, <br />Shakes the broad beach with long-resounding shock, <br />Loud thundering on the ear of sullen Night; <br />Above the desolate and stormy deep, <br />Gleams the wan Moon, by floating mist opprest; <br />Yet here while youth, and health, and labour sleep, <br />Alone I wander—Calm untroubled rest, <br />"Nature's soft nurse," deserts the sigh-swoln breast, <br />And shuns the eyes, that only wake to weep!<br /><br />Charlotte Smith<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sonnet-lxvi-the-night-flood-rakes/
