All the long afternoon it idly swings and sways;

And on the shore the crowd lifts up its hands and prays:

Lifts to heaven and wrings the hands so helpless to save, Prays for the mercy of God on him whom the rock and the ways Battle for, fettered betwixt them, and who amidst their strife Straggles to help his helpers, and fights so hard for his life, Tugging at rope and at reef, while men weep and women swoon.

Priceless second by second, so wastes the afternoon.

And it is sunset now; and another boat and the last Down to him from the bridge through the rapids has safely passed.