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1839–1886

“Out of the Depths”

Abram Joseph Ryan

Lost! Lost! Lost! The cry went up from a sea — The waves were wild with an awful wrath, Not a light shone down on the lone ship's path;

The clouds hung low: Lost! Lost! Lost! Rose wild from the hearts of the tempest-tossed. Lost! Lost! Lost!

The cry floated over the waves — Far over the pitiless waves; It smote on the dark and it rended the clouds; The billows below them were weaving white shrouds

Out of the foam of the surge, And the wind-voices chanted a dirge: Lost! Lost! Lost! Wailed wilder the lips of the tempest-tossed.

Lost! Lost! Lost! Not the sign of a hope was nigh, In the sea, in the air, or the sky; And the lifted faces were wan and white,

There was nothing without them but storm and night And nothing within but fear. But far to a Father's ear: Lost! Lost! Lost!

Floated the wail of the tempest-tossed. Lost! Lost! Lost! Out of the depths of the sea — Out of the night and the sea;

And the waves and the winds of the storm were hushed, And the sky with the gleams of the stars was flushed. Saved! Saved! Saved! And a calm and a joyous cry

Floated up through the starry sky, In the dark — in the storm — “Our Father” is nigh.

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“Out of the Depths” · Abram Joseph Ryan · Poetry Cove