The many men, so beautiful! And they all dead did lie: And a thousand thousand slimy things Lived on; and so did I.
Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean.
Alone, alone, all, all alone, Alone on a wide wide sea! And never a saint took pity on My soul in agony.
An orphans curse would drag to hell A spirit from on high; But oh! How more horrible that that Is the curse in a dead man’s eye!
Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink.
Since then, at an uncertain hour, That agony returns: And till my ghastly tale is told, This heart within me burns.
Ah! well a-day! what evil looks Had I from old and young! Instead of the cross, the Albatross About my neck was hung.
An orphan's curse would drag to hell A spirit from on high; But oh! more horrible than that Is the curse in a dead man's eye! Seven days, seven nights, I saw that curse, And yet I could not die.
Yea, slimy things did crawl with legs Upon the slimy sea.
