Alphonse de Lamartine - The Sails lyrics

When I was young and proud and opened wide Wings of my soul to seawinds, I let go As sails swept all my thoughts away with them, Dreams wavering with bitter waves below. Through that great haze where the horizon drowns, I saw rise many a jasmined, vine-green land: Islands of joy and continents of life Where love and glory called to take my hand. I envied every ship that blanched the billows, Gladly aspiring to a coast unknown. Now, sitting on this smoking bit of headland I've crossed those waves and have returned alone. Still do I love those seas I loved of old, No more as my dear dreams' unbounded plains, But as a plain of d**h where my strewn wings All round reveal to me my own remains. This rough reef smashed me. Baleful rose this bank. In frauds of calm my fortune blew apart. Here heavens' rainbow shot me with bolt lightning. And these waves each roll something of my heart.