As it rippled and ran till, right before,

A great stone stopped it: oh, the strife

Of waves at the stone some devil threw

In my life's midcurrent, thwarting God!

But either I thought, "They may churn and chide

Awhile, my waves which came for their joy

And found this horrible stone full-tide:

Yet I see just a thread escape, deploy

Through the evening-country, silent and safe,

And it suffers no more till it finds the sea."