Beautiful, Proud Sea

by Sara Teasdale

Careless forever, beautiful proud sea,
  You laugh in happy thunder all alone,
You fold upon yourself, you dance your dance
  Impartially on drift-weed, sand or stone.

You make us believe that we can outlive death,
  You make us for an instance, for your sake,
Burn, like stretched silver of a wave,
  Not breaking, but about to break.


Monadnock Valley Press > Teasdale