A Vision from the Sea

The cold flat oceans a green mirror heave

Beneath the rocks that bord a dreary land.

A sea-gull wings the air, his plumage red

With rays of light shot from this rosy eve.

All languishes as if an unseen hand

Had hypnotised the world, or from it bled

Its life-blood.  Rocks are smooth, and sweet airs leave

A fragrance subtle stealing o’er the sand,

Ere swims the moon when day is fled.

There in the twilight where cloud streamers weave

Appears a vision that to my heart brings

A strange excitement.   A three-masted barque,

Softly, mysteriously, floats through the dark

Like a black swan, immense, with folded wings.

 

Weekly Times     2.12.60