Song ("All day I hear the noise of waters") by James Joyce

The sea has many faces, many moods. Here is an untitled poem about the noise of waters. This poem is a song from Chamber Music (1907), a collection of poems by James Joyce. The sounds of wind and wave in never-ending ebb and flow chill Joyce with sadness.


All day I hear the noise of waters
   Making moan,
Sad as the sea-bird is when, going
   Forth alone,
He hears the winds cry to the water's
   Monotone.

The grey winds, the cold winds are blowing
   Where I go.
I hear the noise of many waters
   Far below,
All day, all night, I hear them flowing
   To and fro.

James Joyce (1882-1941)

To read a biography of Joyce, click here.