The ocean, holding pure the azure's blue,

Laughs at the tempests, with one empire's dust

After an other, to round out Earth's crust.

Ah, so does Human Nature hold the hue

It takes from heaven, its conscience, and laughs, too,

At madness, wrecking life and with its gust

Forming new islands, where Pride, Greed, or Lust,

Welcomes the crater's glare, in sun-light's lieu.

Look in the sea and deep, what scattered rock,

The islands which at dusk, the tempest piled!

Ere rose a star, they sank with crews, beguiled.

O Tempests that with world formations, mock

The good Creator, how, as ye grow wild,

Earth quakes and no live thing survives the shock.