The following prose-poem is written from the viewpoint of the national
spirit, pressing toward the world vision which directly controls the
thought of the previous prose-poem. For the Golden Gate, especially
during the Exposition is for the quickened soul the portal--the pulling
aside of the curtain through which one gets the world vision. The title,
"Our Pacific Sea" might well be interpreted:
Our--Democracy.
Pacific--Nationality.
Sea--Verging into the world-vision.
Here on this shore--as prophets are, of course, doing elsewhere--we are
putting our feet on the rock and looking out over the waters and into
the skys. With San Diego, which is even nearer to the canal, our whole
coast is peculiarly susceptible to world thought at this time. And the
people who come here may forever after have an outward and upward look
in their lives.
Much has been written concerning the flowers, hills and climate of
California, but at this time, when the world is looking toward our
coast, would that more writers would reveal the thoughts that have been
inspired in their minds by the sight of our great Western sea.
The prose-poem itself is a denial of the thought that the Pacific is a
monotonous calm--an appreciation both of its storms and serenity written
after several visits to the beach in which both moods were displayed.
The first three verses, the prelude, describe the impression made by the
movement of the boisterous sea landward, upon the observor when first
arriving at the shore.