Ships that Pass in the Night

Out in the sky the great dark clouds are massing;  
   I look far out into the pregnant night,
  Where I can hear the solemn booming gun
   And catch the gleaming of a random light,
  That tells me that the ship I seek
is passing, passing.
  My tearful eyes my soul's deep hurt are glassing;
   For I would hail and check that ship of ships.
  I stretch my hands imploring, cry aloud,
   My voice falls dead a foot from mine own lips,
 And but its ghost doth reach that vessel, passing, passing.
 O Earth, O Sky, O Ocean, both surpassing,
  O heart of mine, O soul that dreads the dark!
 Is there no hope for me? Is there no way
  That I may sight and check that speeding bark
 Which out of sight and sound is passing, passing?