Whirl up, sea—
Much is contained within just the first three words of "Oread." Firstly, the reader is already aware that an "oread" or mountain nymph is likely the speaker. Given that this first phrase addresses the sea, the reader now imagines a nymph referring to the movement and symbolism of the sea crashing upon her mountainous coast. It is clear that an exchange or some level of contact is desired or imminent.
splash your great pines / on our rocks,
These lines are the speaker's second command, and the word "splash" makes the request one for contact. In the previous lines, the word "whirl" could have illustrated a desire to simply watch the waves churn. Now, the reader is aware that the nymph hopes the sea will touch her shores. The speaker's use of the word "great," as well as the metaphor of "pines" to describe the waves, reveals a sense of veneration and romance to her desire. It is as though the oread is appealing to the ocean's ego, and hopes that her solicitations will be beautiful. The phrase "our rocks" also depicts the welcome of a proud inhabitant—a cry for acknowledgment and respect in response to her demands.
cover us with your pools of fir.
The final lines of the poem bring the climactic, chaotic imagery of violent waves to a place of calm and pause with the words "cover" and "pools." This diction reveals a desire to be cared for or protected, underlying the desire to be overtaken. As the lines suggest, the speaker hopes that after the discord of whirling, splashing, and hurling waves, the ocean will linger in pools near her, like soft pillows of fir.
