Break, Break, Break

Break, break, break,

On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!

And I would that my tongue could utter

The thoughts that arise in me.

O, well for the fisherman's boy,

That he shouts with his sister at play!

O, well for the sailor lad,

That he sings in his boat on the bay!

And the stately ships go on

To their haven under the hill;

But O for the touch of a vanish'd hand,

And the sound of a voice that is still!

Break, break, break

At the foot of thy crags, O Sea!

But the tender grace of a day that is dead

Will never come back to me.

Written by Alfred Lord Tennyson.


I knew this poem because of the choral group I got myself into. The song is amazing (check out Gita Smala Youth Choir's performance for this song). Sadly, they're no longer singing this song when I got into the choral group. I really wish I could perform this song...like, in a real performance, not a mere hum when I put my headphones on or when I'm just by myself, or sort. :v

Check out the poem interpretation and analysis (and the trivia) at shmoop.

EDIT: Suddenly I remember this. #getmeouttathatplsduh