How canst thou bear this silence, deep And tranquil as an infant’s sleep— Thou who hast heard above thy head The white sails sing with wings outspread; Thou whose strong soul has thrilled to feel The swift rush of the ploughing keel, The dash of waves, and the wild uproar Of ocean lashed from shore to shore? How canst thou bear this changeless rest, Thou who hast made the world thy quest?
O Lady of the stranded ship, Once more our lingering oars we dip In the clear blue that round thee lies, Fanned by the airs of Paradise! Farewell! farewell! But oft when day On our far hill-tops dies away, And night’s cool winds the pine-trees bow, Our eyes will see thee, even as now, Waiting—a spirit pale and calm— To hear the great sea’s evening psalm!
THOU AND I
April days are over! O my gay young lover, Forth we fare together In the soft May weather; Forth we wander, hand in hand, Seeking an enchanted land Underneath a smiling sky, So blithely—thou and I!
Soft spring days are over! O my ardent lover, Many a hill together, In the July weather, Climb we when the days are long And the summer heats are strong, And the harvest wains go by, So bravely—thou and I!
July days are over! O my faithful lover, Side by side together In the August weather, When the swift, wild storms befall us, And the fiery darts appall us, Wait we till the clouds sweep by, And stars shine—thou and I!
Summer days are over! O my one true lover, Sit we now alone together In the early autumn weather! From our nest the birds have flown To fair dreamlands of their own, And we see the days go by, In silence—thou and I!
Storm and stress are over! O my friend and lover, Closer now we lean together In the Indian-summer weather; See the bright leaves falling, falling, Hear the low winds calling, calling, Glad to let the world go by Unheeding—thou and I!
Winter days are over! O my life-long lover, Rest we now in peace together Out of reach of changeful weather! Not a sound can mar our sleeping— Breath of laughter, or of weeping, May not reach us where we lie Uncaring—thou and I!