Safe ~ A Poem by Augusta Davies Webster

When the Storm Rages, You Remain Safe

Even the wildest winds lose their power when you discover where your true anchorage lies.

Safe

Augusta Davies Webster

Wild wintry wind, storm through the night, 
        Dash the black clouds against the sky, 
Hiss through the billows seething white, 
        Fling the rock-surf in spray on high. 

Hurl the high seas on harbour bars, 
        Madden them with thy havoc-shriek 
Against the crimson beacon-stars — 
        Thy rage no more can make me weak. 

The ship rides safely in the bay, 
      The ship that held my hope in her — 
Whirl on, wild wind, in thy wild fray, 
      We hear our whispers through the stir.

Source

Reflection

Webster’s poem pulls us straight into a furious night—waves crashing, winds screaming, clouds tearing across the sky. And yet, in the midst of this chaos, something remarkable emerges: safety, not because the storm calms, but because the ship has reached the harbor. The poem invites us to consider where our harbors lie. What anchors us when life’s winds howl? Strength doesn’t always come by quieting the storm; sometimes it comes by recognizing the shelter already holding us steady. The whisper of hope can outshine the loudest rage.

Reader Question

What “harbor” in your life helps you stay safe when your personal storms rise?