THE SALAMANDER ISLES

Snaring lights surmount the sand-dunes of the Salamander Isles;

The chime buoys chant new tunes each tide, false soundings run for miles.

And yet, for lures like these we set such sail as we could make;

We steered by stars that sorrowed, with the moonlight in our wake.

We dipped or rose supremely as we shook our freeboard clear;

We clung, but smiled serenely when the head seas swept our gear.

We were captives of the currents, we were harried by the flaw,