I stood upon the shore,and saw the rocks
Resist the onslaught of the mighty sea,
And when i thought how all the countless shocks
They had withstood through an eternity,
I said to wear away this solid main
The ceaseless efforts of the wave are vain.
But when I thought how the rocks had rent,
And the sand that shingles at my feet
(poor passive remnants of resistance spent)
Tumbled and tossed where they the waters meet,
Then saw I ancient landmarks beneath the waves,
And knew the waters held the stones their slaves.
I saw the mighty work the waters wrought
By patient softness and unceasing flow;
How the proudest promontory brought
Unto their feet, and the massy hill laid low;
How the soft drops the adamantine wall
Conquered at last, and brought it to its fall.
And i knew that hard resisting sin
Should yield at last to Love 's soft ceaseless roll
Coming and going, ever flowing in
Upon the proud rocks of the human soul;
That all resistance should be spent and past,
And every heart yield unto it at last.