The IXth Wave

The news lately from Indonesia is dreadful. So much loss, so quickly. As I read the newspaper accounts of the tragedy I was touched by a half-forgotten lyric of Tennyson's. I duely investigated and lyric is:

"Wave after wave, each mightier than the last
'Til last, a ninth one, gathering half the deep
And full of voices, slowly rose and plunged
Roaring, and all the wave was in a flame."

The Coming of Arthur, Alfred, Lord Tennyson