The greatness of the day came down around me

With sun. I was nothing under that sunblaze.

Not millions would have mattered. And slept so,

Particle on the coast under the wind's gaze.

The world rumbled a little in my sleep, turning.

I woke, stared at stars in the black, stars

And no noise there, but vast past midnight.

I pulled the blankets over me, the tide rose

Almost to my feet, and there was surf always

In that sleep that night, like a last sleep.

Gulls and sea-hawks cried it was cold. Cold

Closed into my own bones from the beach-sand.

Morning. It was like being born again, agony

Of beginning nameless where I had left off -

I found myself on the edge of water and light

With camp-pack to move, and the greatness

Of the day rose around me, the tide of sun

Took me nobody away along the world's side.