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The Kraken(1830)

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Below the thunders of the upper deep,
MeterBelow the thunders of the upper deep,
Far, far beneath in the abysmal sea,
MeterFar, far beneath in the abysmal sea,
His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
MeterHis ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee
MeterThe Kraken sleepeth: faintest sunlights flee
About his shadowy sides: above him swell
MeterAbout his shadowy sides: above him swell
Huge sponges of millennial growth and height;
MeterHuge sponges of millennial growth and height;
And far away into the sickly light,
MeterAnd far away into the sickly light,
From many a wondrous grot and secret cell
MeterFrom many a wondrous grot and secret cell
Unnumbered and enormous polypi
MeterUnnumbered and enormous polypi
Winnow with giant arms the slumbering green.
MeterWinnow with giant arms the slumbering green.
There hath he lain for ages and will lie
MeterThere hath he lain for ages and will lie
Battening upon huge seaworms in his sleep,
MeterBattening upon huge seaworms in his sleep,
Until the latter fire shall heat the deep;
MeterUntil the latter fire shall heat the deep;
Then once by man and angels to be seen,
MeterThen once by man and angels to be seen,
In roaring he shall rise and on the surface die.
MeterIn roaring he shall rise and on the surface die.

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