The Shell

From “Gebir,” Book I. I AM not daunted, no; I will engage. But first, said she, what wager will you lay? A sheep, I answered, add whate’er you will. I cannot, she replied, make that return: Our hided vessels in their pitchy round Seldom, unless from rapine, hold a sheep. But I have sinuous shells of pearly hue Within, and they that lustre have imbibed In the Sun’s palace-porch, where when unyoked His chariot-wheel stands midway in the wave: Shake one and it awakens, then apply Its polisht lips to your attentive ear And it remembers its august abodes, And murmurs as the ocean murmurs there.

Collection: 
English
1795
Walter Savage Landor
Sub Title: 
VII. The Sea

More from Poet

Art Criticism

First bring me Raffael, who alone hath seen In all her purity heaven’s virgin queen, Alone hath felt true beauty; bring me then Titian, ennobler of the noblest men; And next the sweet Correggio, nor chastise His little Cupids for those wicked eyes. I want not Rubens’s pink puffy bloom, Nor...
Robert Browning

There is delight in singing, though none hear Beside the singer; and there is delight In praising, though the praiser sit alone And see the praised far off him, far above. Shakespeare is not our poet, but the world’s, Therefore on him no speech! and brief for thee, Browning! Since Chaucer was...
Macaulay as Poet

The Dreamy rhymer’s measured snore Falls heavy on our ears no more; And by long strides are left behind The dear delights of womankind, Who wage their battles like their loves, In satin waistcoats and kid gloves, And have achieved the crowning work When they have trussed and skewered a Turk....
Verses, why Burnt

How many verses have I thrown Into the fire because the one Peculiar word, the wanted most, Was irrecoverably lost!
The One White Hair

THE Wisest of the wise Listen to pretty lies, And love to hear them told; Doubt not that Solomon Listened to many a one,— Some in his youth, and more when he grew old. I never sat among The choir of Wisdom’s song, But pretty...