By That Long Scan of Waves + 

By that long scan of waves, myself call’d back, resumed upon myself, + 

In every crest some undulating light or shade⁠—some retrospect, + 

Joys, travels, studies, silent panoramas⁠—scenes ephemeral, + 

The long past war, the battles, hospital sights, the wounded and the dead, + 

Myself through every by-gone phase⁠—my idle youth⁠—old age at hand, + 

My three-score years of life summ’d up, and more, and past, + 

By any grand ideal tried, intentionless, the whole a nothing, + 

And haply yet some drop within God’s scheme’s ensemble⁠—some wave, or part of wave, + 

Like one of yours, ye multitudinous ocean. + 