Broken Oar

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h3><SPAN name="chap305"></SPAN>THE BROKEN OAR</h3> <p> Once upon Iceland's solitary strand<br/> A poet wandered with his book and pen,<br/> Seeking some final word, some sweet Amen,<br/> Wherewith to close the volume in his hand.<br/> The billows rolled and plunged upon the sand,<br/> The circling sea-gulls swept beyond his ken,<br/> And from the parting cloud-rack now and then<br/> Flashed the red sunset over sea and land.<br/> Then by the billows at his feet was tossed<br/> A broken oar; and carved thereon he read,<br/> "Oft was I weary, when I toiled at thee";<br/> And like a man, who findeth what was lost,<br/> He wrote the words, then lifted up his head,<br/> And flung his useless pen into the sea.<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />