Tears

Tears! tears! tears!
In the night, in solitude,
tears,
On the white shore dripping, dripping, suck'd in by the sand,
Tears, not a star shining, all dark and desolate,
Moist tears from the eyes of a muffled head;
O who is that ghost? that form in the dark, with tears?
What shapeless lump is that, bent, crouch'd there on the sand?
Streaming tears, sobbing tears, throes, choked with wild cries;

O storm, embodied, rising, careering with swift steps along
   the beach!
O wild and dismal night storm, with wind
--O belching and
   desperate!

O shade so sedate and decorous by day, with calm
   countenance and
regulated pace,
But away at night as you fly, none looking--O then the
   unloosen'd ocean,
Of tears! tears! tears!