The Chambered Nautilus 



THE CHAMBERED NAUTILUS 



BY OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES 



This is the ship of pearl, which, poets feign, 

 Sails the unshadowed main, — 



The venturous bark that flings 



On the sweet summer wind its purpled wings 



In gulfs enchanted, where the Siren sings. 

 And coral reefs lie bare ; 

 Where the cold sea-maids rise to sun their streaming hair. 



Its webs of living gauze no more unfurl ; 

 Wrecked is the ship of pearl! 



And every chambered cell. 



Where its dim dreaming life was wont to dwell. 



As the frail tenant-shaped his growing shell, 

 Before thee lies revealed. — 

 Its irised ceiling rent, its sunless crypt unsealed! 



Year after year beheld the silent toil 



That spread his lustrous coil ; 

 Still, as the spiral grew. 

 He left the past year's dwelling for the new, 

 Stole with soft step its shining archway through, 



Built up its idle door. 



Stretched in his last-found home, and knew the old no more. 



Thanks for the heavenly message brought by thee, 

 Child of the wondering sea. 



Cast from her lap, forlorn ! 



From thy dead lips a clearer note is born 



Than ever Triton blew from wreathed horn! 

 While on mine ear it rings, 

 Through the deep caves of thought I hear a voice that sings: — 



" Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, 



As the swift seasons roll ! 



Leave thy low-vaulted past ! 



Let each new temple, nobler than the last. 



Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast, 



Till thou at length are free. 



Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea!" 



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