Samuel Taylor Coleridge — On Revisiting the Sea-shore

God be with thee, gladsome Ocean!        &nbspHow gladly greet I thee once more! Ships and waves, and ceaseless motion,        &nbspAnd men rejoicing on thy shore. Dissuading spake the mild Physician,        &nbsp'Those briny waves for thee are Death!' But my soul fulfilled her mission,        &nbspAnd lo! I breathe untroubled breath! Fashion's pining sons and daughters,        &nbspThat seek the crowd they seem to fly, Trembling they approach thy waters;        &nbspAnd what cares Nature, if they die? Me a thousand hopes and pleasures        &nbspA thousand recollections bland, Thoughts sublime, and stately measures,        &nbspRevisit on thy echoing strand: Dreams (the Soul herself forsaking),        &nbspTearful raptures, boyish mirth; Silent adorations, making        &nbspA blessed shadow of this Earth! O ye hopes, that stir within me,        &nbspHealth comes with you from above! God is with me, God is in me!        &nbspI cannot die, if Life be Love.