That I may shut one moment from my sight

The dreadful heaving of the shuddering sea!

For as it creeps back slowly from my feet,

Rise from its inky depths swift-coming waves

Big with the terrible and nameless thing

That soon along the shrinking sands will crawl

To wrap me in its hideous embrace.

I will not struggle! leave me but one hand

To shield the poor eyes that refuse to close;

For stretched and wide the fascinated lids