| Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893. | | | | Fragments | | “O Faithful, Indefatigable Tides” |
| | August 18, 1847.
O FAITHFUL, indefatigable tides, | |
| That evermore upon God’s errands go,— | |
| Now seaward bearing tidings of the land,— | |
| Now landward bearing tidings of the sea,— | |
| And filling every frith and estuary, | 5 |
| Each arm of the great sea, each little creek, | |
| Each thread and filament of water-courses, | |
| Full with your ministration of delight! | |
| Under the rafters of this wooden bridge | |
| I see you come and go; sometimes in haste | 10 |
| To reach your journey’s end, which being done | |
| With feet unrested ye return again | |
| And recommence the never-ending task; | |
| Patient, whatever burdens ye may bear, | |
| And fretted only by the impeding rocks. | 15 | | | |
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