岩架一直延伸到大海，在它的外围，几英里外，灯塔升起了它巨大的砖石，夜晚是火柱，白天是云。即使在这么远的地方，我也能看到潮水，汹涌澎湃，沿着它的底部破碎，无声的愤怒，在苍白的嘴唇和颤抖的脸上起落。当夜幕降临，瞧!多么明亮啊，在暮色的深紫色的空气中，它突然发出耀眼的光芒，闪耀着奇异的、超凡脱俗的光辉!不是一个人;从每一个突出的海角和海洋边缘的危险的暗礁上，一个朦胧的、巨大的形体开始了生命，举着它的灯笼，照耀着汹涌的波涛。像伟大的巨人克里斯托弗，它站在汹涌的波浪的边缘，涉水在岩石和沙滩之间，黑夜的水手拯救。巨轮驶出又返航，在波涛汹涌的海面上弯着腰，鞠躬，看着它燃烧，他们永远高兴，挥手默默地欢迎和告别。他们从黑暗中走出来，他们的帆只在火光中闪烁了一会儿，当光明揭开面纱时，热切的面孔凝视着塔楼，当他们凝视时，又消失了。水手记得小时候，在他第一次航行时，他看到它褪色沉没; And when, returning from adventures wild, He saw it rise again o'er ocean's brink. Steadfast, serene, immovable, the same Year after year, through all the silent night Burns on forevermore that quenchless flame, Shines on that inextinguishable light! It sees the ocean to its bosom clasp The rocks and sea-sand with the kiss of peace; It sees the wild winds lift it in their grasp, And hold it up, and shake it like a fleece. The startled waves leap over it; the storm Smites it with all the scourges of the rain, And steadily against its solid form Press the great shoulders of the hurricane. The sea-bird wheeling round it, with the din Of wings and winds and solitary cries, Blinded and maddened by the light within, Dashes himself against the glare, and dies. A new Prometheus, chained upon the rock, Still grasping in his hand the fire of Jove, It does not hear the cry, nor heed the shock, But hails the mariner with words of love. 'Sail on!' it says, 'sail on, ye stately ships! And with your floating bridge the ocean span; Be mine to guard this light from all eclipse, Be yours to bring man nearer unto man!'