Complete Poetical Works

LONE MOUNTAIN

     (CEMETERY, SAN FRANCISCO)

     This is that hill of awe
     That Persian Sindbad saw,—
         The mount magnetic;
     And on its seaward face,
     Scattered along its base,
         The wrecks prophetic.

     Here come the argosies
     Blown by each idle breeze,
         To and fro shifting;
     Yet to the hill of Fate
     All drawing, soon or late,—
         Day by day drifting;

     Drifting forever here
     Barks that for many a year
         Braved wind and weather;
     Shallops but yesterday
     Launched on yon shining bay,—
         Drawn all together.

     This is the end of all:
     Sun thyself by the wall,
         O poorer Hindbad!
     Envy not Sindbad's fame:
     Here come alike the same
         Hindbad and Sindbad.