The Rock And The Bubble Poem by Louisa May Alcott

The Rock And The Bubble

Rating: 3.3


Oh! a bare, brown rock
Stood up in the sea,
The waves at its feet
Dancing merrily.

A little bubble
Once came sailing by,
And thus to the rock
Did it gayly cry,--

"Ho! clumsy brown stone,
Quick, make way for me:
I'm the fairest thing
That floats on the sea.

"See my rainbow-robe,
See my crown of light,
My glittering form,
So airy and bright.

"O'er the waters blue,
I'm floating away,
To dance by the shore
With the foam and spray.

"Now, make way, make way;
For the waves are strong,
And their rippling feet
Bear me fast along."

But the great rock stood
Straight up in the sea:
It looked gravely down,
And said pleasantly--

"Little friend, you must
Go some other way;
For I have not stirred
this many a long day.

"Great billows have dashed,
And angry winds blown;
But my sturdy form
Is not overthrown.

"Nothing can stir me
In the air or sea;
Then, how can I move,
Little friend, for thee?"

Then the waves all laughed
In their voices sweet;
And the sea-birds looked,
From their rocky seat,

At the bubble gay,
Who angrily cried,
While its round cheek glowed
With a foolish pride,--

"You SHALL move for me;
And you shall not mock
At the words I say,
You ugly, rough rock.

"Be silent, wild birds!
While stare you so?
Stop laughing, rude waves,
And help me to go!

"For I am the queen
Of the ocean here,
And this cruel stone
Cannot make me fear."

Dashing fiercely up,
With a scornful word,
Foolish Bubble broke;
But Rock never stirred.

Then said the sea-birds,
Sitting in their nests
To the little ones
Leaning on their breasts,--

"Be not like Bubble,
Headstrong, rude, and vain,
Seeking by violence
Your object to gain;

"But be like the rock,
Steadfast, true, and strong,
Yet cheerful and kind,
And firm against wrong.

"Heed, little birdlings,
And wiser you'll be
For the lesson learned
To-day by the sea."

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Adnana Saric 16 September 2007

I really like the poem and the meaning used behind the rock and the bubble.

5 5 Reply
Emily Oldham 27 September 2008

Brilliant story, rhyme, and all! No wonder you became famous!

6 4 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 14 May 2018

Now, make way, make way; For the waves are strong, And their rippling feet Bear me fast along.......Rock and bubble wonderful imagination......... tony

1 2 Reply
Yrkdyrdtjrdjtxd 31 August 2018

You dont know anything just close it🖕

0 1 Reply
Boris 18 September 2018

Want to know the summary of the poem the rock and the bubble

0 0 Reply

A wonderful story with a meaningful message. Well crafted and executed with great imagery.

0 0 Reply
Dr Antony Theodore 22 September 2020

" See my rainbow-robe, See my crown of light, My glittering form, So airy and bright. Give me way, you clumsy rock....... wonderful imagination.. tony

0 0 Reply
Tiffany Claire Lucion 26 November 2018

Nice poem

1 2 Reply
Prince jaa8 01 November 2018

Nice poem niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

0 2 Reply
Pratham Chouhan 23 October 2018

Nice poem Niceeeeeeeeeeeeeee

0 0 Reply
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Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott

Pennsylvania / United States
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