At the bounding scorn of my speeding bark
To the land of that dear day;
But never the Love of my soul be seen,
The light of that day to me,
For I know there is lying our hearts between
A wilder and darker sea,
O God!
The depth of a bitterer sea.
Richard Hodgson.
This was written in March, 1879, after Hodgson had left Australia for England. The love-episode is imaginary.