The Song of the Storm-Spirits
by Cale Young Rice
Come over the tide,
Come over the foam,
Dance on the hurricane, leap its waves,
Dream not of the calm sea-caves
5 Nor of content in them and home.
For that is the reason the hearts of men
Are ever weary—they would abide
Somewhere out of the spumy stride
Of the world’s spindrift—a want denied.
10 That is the reason: tho they know
That the restive years have no true home,
But only a Whence, Whither, and When—
Whence and Whither, for hearts to roam.
So who would tarry and rest the while,
15 Not dance as we, and sing on the wind,
Against the whole flow of the world has sinned,
And soon is weary and cannot smile.
Dance then, dance, on the fleeting spray!
None can gather eternity
20 Into his heart and bid it stay,
Swiftly again it slips away.
Dance, and know that the will of Life
Is the wind’s will and the will of the tide,
And who finds not a home in its strife
25 Shall find no home on any side!

Question 1
What is a major theme explored in this poem?

Answer
A
After working hard, people deserve to rest.

B
Family is where people find true happiness.

C
Some people search their whole lives and never feel content.

D
One should live life to the fullest by actively seeking adventure.

Question 2
What effect do the line breaks have on the tone of the poem?

Answer
F
The line breaks create an animated tone by maintaining a quick rhythm.

G
The line breaks create a cautionary tone with a heavy, jarring rhythm.

H
The line breaks create a calm tone by slowing down the pace of the rhythm.

J
The line breaks have no effect on the tone of the poem.

Question 3
The alliteration in lines 12 and 13 —

Answer
A
describes where a person might search to find true happiness

B
suggests that those who rest have a truer home than those who travel the sea

C
focuses the attention of the reader to the sense of the pointlessness of staying on land

D
asks the readers questions about their wants and desires that they must answer for themselves

Question 4
The poet repeats the word dance throughout the poem to —

Answer
F
present life on the sea as a trivial choice

G
reflect on the speaker’s memories of the past

H
describe the movement of a boat on the water

J
express the speaker’s feelings of joy when at sea

Question 5
Read these lines from the poem.

None can gather eternity Into his heart and bid it stay, Swiftly again it slips away.


The speaker’s feelings about eternity suggest a theme of —

Answer
A
the emptiness of life without love

B
the fleeting nature of life in general

C
the rewards of building a permanent home

D
the value of living a life of faith and service