<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">By the North Sea</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Death</span> and Sorrow and Sleep:</p><p class="line">Here where the slow waves creep,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">This is the chant I hear,</p><p class="line">The chant of the measureless deep.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">What was Sorrow to me</p><p class="line">Then, when the young life free</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Thirsted for joys of earth,</p><p class="line">Far from the desolate sea?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">What was Sleep but a rest,</p><p class="line">Giving to youth the best</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Dreams from the ivory gate,</p><p class="line">Visions of God manifest?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">What was death but a tale</p><p class="line">Told to faces grown pale,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Worn or wasted with years --</p><p class="line">A meaningless thing to the hale?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Death and Sorrow and Sleep:</p><p class="line">Now their sad message I keep,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Tossed on the wet wind's breath,</p><p class="line">The chant of the measureless deep.</p></div><p class="byline">-- W. L. Courtney.</p></body></html> · Great War