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SEA    DRIFT 


SEA  DRIFT 


OR 


TRIBUTE  TO  THE  OCEAN 


BY       / 

ANTOINETTE  BROWN  BLACKWELL 

Author  of  "The  Thilosophy  of  Individuality ,"  "The  Physi- 
cal "Basis  of  Immortality/'  "The  Sexes  Through- 
out U^ature,"  etc. 


JAMES  T.  WHITE  &  CO. 

NEW  YORK 


THE  LIBRAKV  OF 
CONGRtSS 

Two  Cof)i8»  Hocoived 

MAR   26  1903 

1    Copymjht     Lnliy 

(JlASS  ^  »    XXc.  No 

COPY    U. 


Copyright,  1902, 

BY 

JAMES  T.  WHITE  &  CO. 


*WE  SEE  THROUGH  A  GLASS  DARKLY" 


SEA  DRIFT. 


Vast  and  pliant  Ocean,  whose  soft,  large  arms 
Enfold  the  Earth,  holding  in  close  embrace, 
To  share  with  her  the  tireless  daily  round 
Through  the  long  court-ways  of  the  royal  sun 
In  unabated  power  and  joy  of  might ; 
We  greet  thee !  closest  kin  of  air  and  light, 
And  dowered  like  them  with  fair-souled  purity. 
All  hail,  great  Ocean,  reprint  of  the  sky ! 

Inspired  with  motion,  pauseless,  with  no  end — 
Motion,  the  quickened  breath  of  panting  stars. 
And  wings  on  the  round  shoulders  of  the  worlds, 
Heart-throbs  of  sound  and  all  deep  harmonies. 
The  pulse  of  light,  the  soul  of  solar  flame. 
Swift  gliding  footsteps  on  the  floors  of  space. 
And  poetry  and  bloom  of  measured  time; 
Twin-born  with  sentient  gain  of  finite  life ; — 
Ocean  and  Earth,  in  twofold  majesty. 
Inspired  with  motion ;  wrought  of  woven  change ; 


6  SEA  DRIFT. 

A  twain  made  one  by  subtle  deathless  bonds, 
Form  our  great  world,  equipped  and  glorified ! 
No  path,  no  chart,  no  sign  to  mark  the  way, 
Both  forge  right  on  through  awed  and  wonder- 
ing space, 
Leaving  no  wound  on  its  ethereal  deeps. 

Exuberant  in  work  that  needs  no  rest. 
Clothed  in  white  samite  by  the  radiant  sun, 
Exchanging  signals  with  the  neighboring  worlds ; 
You  hold  your  place  among  the  stars  of  heaven — 
A  wedded  Sea  and  Earth  in  nuptial  flight, 
A  world  as  golden  as  the  stars  of  heaven. 

A  CHANT  OF  THE  WORLDS. 

Through  time  and  through  distance  on  into  the 

vast ; 
With  endless  persistence  we  hail  from  the  past. 

Onrushing  and  shining,  all  day  and  all  night ; 
The  blue  heavens  lining  with  God's  golden  light. 

Our  ranks  broken  never,  not  one  of  us  lost; 
On  !  onward  forever,  in  serial  host. 

Rest  needing  not,  neither  renewal  of  days; 
To  us,  pathless  ether  like  firm,  beaten  ways. 


SEA  DRIFT.  7 

In  far,  starry  sessions,  each  other's  ally, 
We  weave  wondrous  lessoas  in  light  from  on 
high. 

We  round  every  angle — fraternal  and  strong — 
And  strew  love's  evangel  the  blue  sky  along. 

Upright  our  great  neighbors,  all  kinships  abide ; 
And  no  rash  invaders  hearts  loyal  divide. 

From  through  the  far  spaces  wide  friendships 

arise ; 
And,  all  in  our  places,  our  love  fills  the  skies. 

Heaven's  eyes!  we  are  smiling  all  day  and  all 

night ; 
The  ages  beguiling  with  movement  and  light. 

Our  singing  is  moving,  our  moving  is  song ; 
Triumphant,  God  proving,  we  worlds  roll  along. 


A  Living  Radiance  fills  earth,  sea  and  sky, 
And  breathes  one  breath  of  Life  in  all  that  are ; 
One  sweet  and  waking  sentience,  manifold ; 
More  closely  kindred  all  than  blessed  babes 
That  suck  one  mothcr'i  breast  and  gladden  home. 


f  SEA  DRIFT. 

Ocean  if  very  life,  we  only  know 
In  waves,  in  tides,  in  foam,  in  thrill  of  voice ; — 
Mere  flecks  in  one  infinitude  of  change ; 
Illusions  telling  of  the  deeper  real 
That  would  reveal  itself  as  best  it  may. 

So  learn  we  of  the  Ocean's  Source  and  ours 
In  tones,  in  forms,  in  endless  wavering  change, 
Reiterating:    'There  is  Power  unchanged, — 
The  One  and  All — ^by  truth  interpreted 
In  beauty  of  revealing  light  that  floods 
To  blindness  feeble  eyes  of  sense  and  soul, 
Slow  conning  primers  of  an  endless  lore. 
His   unveiled   Power   would   wreck   our   feeble 
sight/' 

THE  PROBLEM. 

Shall  every  atom  allies  seek  and  find  ? 

Shall  stones,  like  worlds,  build  up  of  their  own 

kind? 
Shall  every  creature  need  and  seek  its  own  ? 
Shall  all  our  highest  joys  dear  kinships  bind ; 
Yet  those  grand  worlds  go  on  and  on  alone, 
Unhelped  by  sympathetic  sentient  mind 
Conditioned  like  themselves ;  in  large  outlined? 
They  move  by  law;  but  so  does  everything; 
Firm,  innate  laws  from  our  own  bodies  spring; 


SEA  DRIFT.  9 

To  every  one  of  them  each  act  is  bound. 
And  yet,  within,  the  living  me  is  found, 
Learns    its    own    province    and    pre-emptt    its 
ground. 

Vast  principalities  and  powers  of  life 
Constructed  for  a  different,  grander  strife, 
Unlike  to  ours,  but  with  large  purpose  rife, 
Should  hold  their  higher  conferences  in  love, 
Thelir  kindred  joys  and  hopes  perennial  prove, 
And  with  onmoving  worlds  in  onward  friendship 

move. 
Our  dearest  joys  rise  from  our  social  needs ; 
Are  there  no  grander  souls  who  share  their  larger 

deeds  ? 

The  smallest  dot  can  boast  its  living  dower, 
Then  why  not  lands  and  oceans  of  a  sentient 

power  ? 
Is  God  too  poor  to  make  of  many  kinds. 
An  ordered  growth  for  all  His  growing  minds  ? 
Who  limits  Him,  the  might  of  Love  maligns. 
Of  all  organic  forms  on  our  own  Earth, 
Each  type  unfolds  a  differing  mental  birth. 
And   from   the   wealth   of  all,   springs   highest 

worth. 


10  SEA  DRIFT, 

MYTHS. 

A  germ  of  truth  has  nestled 
In  crudest  guess  of  yore ; 

Wise  men  with  mysteries  wrestled 
And  only  found  the  more. 

The  sea  and  air  are  teeming 
With  nerveless  forms  of  life; 

With  slumbering  seeds,  undreaming, 
The  poorest  clay  is  rife. 

Some  ancient  myths  seem  wiser 
Than  sanest  lore  to-day ; 

Do  worlds  need  close  adviser 
To  aid  them  all  the  way? 

Do  great  souls  need  their  helf)er5, 
Real  forms,  with  mass  compact? 

Mayhap,  the  wide  sea  shelters 
Its  glorious  soul,  intact. 


Ocean,  not  clothed  as  we  in  aching  flesh, 
That  grows,  and  withers  as  the  grass,  and  dies, 
Thou  livest  alway  as  the  ages  live! 
Spirit,  lliou  art,  too  glorious  for  our  sight. 
Of  God's  first-born — in  film  of  day  enwrapped 
That  all  may  feel  thee,  find  thee  near  and  dear. 
In  thy  great  self  transcendent  more  than  air, 


SJiA  DRll'T.  11 

Than  light  itself;  and  protean  in  hclpfuhiess, 
Echo  of  llini  who  changes  not  in  love, — 
Il'is  hright  renection,  shadowed  to  our  needs; 
r»est  type  of  hfe  made  tangible  and  real; 
Re-echoing  songs  of  11  is  high  purposes 
In  charity  as  large  as  hope  demands. 

Why  are  we  blinded  to  the  larger  lives 
Who  rule  the  world  as  wc  our  bodies  rule? — 
The  waking  souls  of  slcei)ing,  obvious  forms, 
Akin  to  all  the  children  of  the  Living  One? 
They  make  our  universe  fraternal  home! 


Incarnate  Ocean  is  embodied  health, 
With  priceless  gifts  for  every  wandering  breeze; 
Quick  messages,  alive  and  jubilant. 
Coaxing  the  leafy  i)lains  in  Ionic  dance; 
On  hillsides  waving  off  pale  maladies, 
And  scattering  strength  as  hoar  frost,  autumn 
loved. 

Not  one  of  all  life's  children,  Ocean  scorns! 
The  patient,  helpful  earliest  mn'se  and  friend 
Of  blind,  slow  groping  inimalurily  ; 
His  waiting  i)atience  all  the  ages  envy. 
His  soft  phylacteries  enfold  the  r.arlh, 
And  round  it  full  in  glorious  symmclry 
Of  beauty  deeper  than  the  midnight  sky — 
Fair  robe  for  this  fair  world  on  which  we  live. 


12  SEA  DRIFT. 

Earth    laurel-crowns    her    glorious    mountain 

heights, 
Grows  lilies  in  her  valleys  beautiful, 
And  smiles  in  roses  on  her  sunny  plains ; 
But  sweetest  blossoms  shrink  to  piteous  guise, 
And  make  their  hasty  pilgrimage  to  dust 
From  whence  they  came.     Mankind — all  things 

that  walk — 
When  life  with  high  achievement  passes  on, 
Grown   wan   and   pallid   ghosts,   step   down   to 

Hades ; 
Love  hiding  them  from  startled  eye  of  day. 

Great  Ocean  finds  no  death  his  own  estate ; 
He  was,  and  is,  and  will  be  ages  hence. 
He    wrapped    the    naked    plains    in    swaddling 

clothes. 
And  saw  the  rising  of  the  purple  hills. 
Before  mankind  had  lifted  stately  head 
And  claimed  his  sovereignty  of  guiding  mind. 

Ocean,  in  his  higher  state — fair  water 
Distilled  in  sunshine  for  the  dear  Earth's  needs — 
The  beverage  for  children  of  the  light — 
Knows  no  corruption  and  no  doom  of  death. 
Though  foreign  taints  should  burden  weary  days 
With  soil  and  cloud,  tliey're  dropped  as  ooe  dis- 
cards 
A  wornout  garb  that  never  was  himself. 


SEA  DRIFT.  13 

If  sacrificed  ten  thousand  thousand  times 
On  human  altars  for  utility, 
Transformed,  denied,  buried,  as  slain  at  last ; 
Water — spurning  decay,  with  facile  might. 
Redeems  its  own  high  birthright,  undefiled; 
Soars  up  to  Heaven,  by  strong  attraction  drawn, 
Descends,  expands,  fills  all  the  air  with  life, 
Pervasively  to  comfort  all  who  breathe. 

A  hospitality  as  large  and  free 
As  Ocean's  world-encircling  lavishness 
Is  spread  more  widely  than  the  solid  earth. 
Old  Ocean  folds  in  clasping,  softest  arms 
And    holds    within    his    heart — where    calmness 

reigns — 
Pale,  breathless  forms  that  none  can  number ; 
Revolving  cycles  lost  all  count  long  since. 
But  men  miscall  this  proffered  sanctuary; 
They  clothe  a  virtue  in  the  garb  of  vice ; 
They  freight  his  billows  with  more  obloquy 
Than  ships  on  Ocean's  all-sustaining  deep. 

Great  questions,  intricate,  of  many  sides. 
Bewilder  honest  men  with  subtleties; 
Statutes  most  clearly  framed  can  be  interpreted 
By  straight  reversal  of  their  high  intent. 
Sheer  Will,  aroused,  plays  judge  and  jury  both. 
Plain  Bible  texts  serve  readings  manifold. 


14  SEA  DRIFT. 

Poor  souls  have  stumbled  into  gloomy  caves 

Because  a  neighbor's  bushel  screened  their  light, 

And  active  fancy  conjures  miracles 

More  wonderful  than  told  in  ancient  script. 

Two  children  wrangled  hotly  for  possession 

Of  scissors,  born  in  their  small  brains  ;  intent, 

Each  one,  to  cut  the  apron,  white,  invisible, 

For  lovely  dolly — wholly  mythical. 

The  grown  up  fancy  may  outrank  the  child's. 


The  things   we  love  are   shields;   so,  Janus- 
faccd ; 
Our  side  defending  us  with  reflex  zeal. 
That  waxes  hot  as  we  in  its  defence. 
Till  we  and  shield  alike  are  jaundice  Wued. 
Each  glass  is  to  its  allies,  surplus  zeal. 
One  brain  can  build  more  castles,  stronger  based 
Than  any  thousand  cunning  hands  combined ; 
Building  in  earth  or  air ;  with  art  as  fine. 
More  subtly  beautiful,  than  Spain's  Alhambra's. 


Yet  each  must  speak  his  own  deliberate  mind, 
His  dearest  thought,  for  ends  that  suit  himself, 
Let  others  hear  aright  or  hear  all  wrong. 


SEA  .DKII^r.  15 


11. 


Old,  pliant  Ocean,  in  thy  massivcness 
As  low  and  humble  as  Earth's  sandy  shores. 
We  come  to  thee,  playmate  of  trustful  men, 
Sustainer  of  our  frailest  venturing  crafts ; 
We  come  to  test  thy  splendid  buoyancy. 
To  shed  the  cares  of  life  and  pluck  its  joys ; 
We  come,  tired  children,  to  the  father's  arms 
For  pillowed  calm  as  on  maternal  breast ; 
We  stoutly  wrestle,  too,  with  boisterous  waves. 
Grappling  with  surges  of  benignant  power. 
Alive  with  teeming,  sheer  vitality — 
Contagion  of  high  health  we're  sure  to  catch. 

Off  hours,  we  lounge  upon  the  thirsty  sands, 
Thirsting  as  they  for  thy  cool  bath  of  strength  ; 
Yet  more  than   satisfied  with  breathing  deep 
The  savor  sweet  and  pure,  which  fills  the  air 
From  high,  uplcaping  billows,  flashing  clear. 
Long  ambient  crests,  scattering  liquid  light 
As  meteors  break  to  radiant  gems  at  night ; — 
These  keep  thy  waters  rich  with  rampant  change. 
The  loom  that  weaves  new  vigor,  still  renewed. 
It  scatters  wealth  of  dewy  helpfulness 


16 


.S7{.'/    DKIh'T. 


To  nnrlnri'  far  :m(l  widi'  K-af^rowiiij;"  tliini^s — ■ 
T\\c  fool-honiid  rliildrcn  of  llu-  ^ralcfiil  soil — 
And  l<i'ci)s  deal"  I'.ailli  in  ficsli  horn  pnrilv. 

'\\\\  rlivliiiniic  lidos,  (lie  y  slnnihtT  not  nor  sloi-p, 
Likt'  (iod's  own  love — with  l)K\sscd  risi'  and   fall. 
Tilt'  slow,  iinu'-bi'alinL;;  i)ulst*  of  rosmic  life 
Tlu'v  l)rrallu'  a  i^rcal   world  ninsic  all  lluii-  own, 
And  move  staid   lOarlli  lo  thrill   in  s\ni])alliy, 
Low   inunnnrini;'  melodies   in   sofi    iwsponse, 
Atlnol) '  allirol) !  in  twiseless  c\A)  and  (low, 
vSyslole,  dyaslole,  of  l)rc\atliini;-  sea; 
And  tliy  fnll  healing"  i)nlse  is  kin  to  man's. 
The  heart  tlnohs  of  a  eommon  jo\'ons  lifc\ 


llelpei-  and  fric-nd  of  hlind  misforlnne's  waifs! 

l)nll    hroki-n    tIiinL;s      alloal      awak(>    newborn, 

Wave  elad  afresh  in  rare  and  riehesi  dyc\s. 

Wrecks,  stMit  adrift  in  raj^'^ed  ni^liness. 

(  )n   lliN'   snslainini;'  love  .i;ro\v   hi-anlifnl 

As  sheen-rohed  lishes  leapini;"  into  air. 

Willi  rainbows  i^leamini';  on  lluMr  speekliMl  sides: 

Tlu'v  add   fair  i;lory  lo  llu>  fairesi   day. 

All  stravs  who  pillow  li^hlly  on  thy  waves. 

!M()ve  with  Iheir  motion,  as  rider  with  his  steed. 

And    swav    as    shadows    elian^c    wilh    ehan^iiiL;' 

li-ht. 
Come  storm  or  sunshine,  feci  no  weariness. 


SR/t   DRll'T.  1? 

CiisliioiKMl  and  I:ui'  riin_i;c(I  cradles  rock  th'cin  all 
'To   sliiiiibcrons   <4raccfnl    couiilcrfcils   of   life — 
Motion  and  I'csl  no  lonj^cr  two  bnl  one. 

I  '|)oii  illy  lossinj^'  billows,  idlv  |)oisc(l, 
K'cst  l)roodin<;-  ships  like  birds  on  leafy  nests, 
Swayed  lightly  lo  and  fro  l)y  i)assin,<j^  breeze. 
Willi  folded  robes,  ibese,  coaxin^j;"  erranl  dreams, 
As  lliou^di  all  care  in  life  bad  fallen  on  sleep, 
Slow    rise   and    fall    in    slninber's    deep-brealbed 

calm  ; 
And  crystal  l)nddin^  (lowers  float  daintily 
I'Yom  prow  to  stern, — brii^lii  leafage  of  the  sea, 
Sweet  lotus  blossoms  of  rare  idleness. 


Anon   wake  up  the  strenuous  livinp;  souls 
Of  tliese  winj^ed  sleepers  on  tby  beavin^  breast. 

Flinj^  wide  abroad  wbite  plumes  of  cherubim  1 
Move  out  afar,  devouring  space  on  sj)ace 
Till  lost  in  wide  horizon's  smiling  face! 
Purpose;  and  shar])  intent,  a,nd  victory 
In  every  change. 

Yet  see!  they  falter,  tack, 
Give  U])  llifir  rij^lil-  line  march,  as  vassals  may. 


18  SUA  /)AV/'T. 

Wooing  the  wind  whoso  hvinp^  hrcalh  they  crave 
lH)r  vital  air.     Ah!  challenge   faco  to  face 
The  stroni;  wind's  hhislerini;".  hrave  andacity ! 
Sail  on,  as  clear-eyed  castles  ily  towards  lit^ht, 
l\iL;ht   throni^h  the  piercinj^^  front  of  conqnered 

])ower ! 
The  stnrdiest  sonl  of  enterprise  may  find 
His  hest  laid  plans  held  np  hy  sea  or  land; 
His  only  hope,  reversing  fate  adverse, 
And  in  the  teeth  of  challenge,  come  to  port; 
So  gathering  high  rewards  amhition  craves, 
r.y  facing  holdly  lions  of  the  sea. 


Steam-motored,   prouder  craft,   plow   ocean's 

soil 
With  straighter  fnrrows,  cut  with  sharper  steel ; 
And   careless,   insolent.   pnfT  towers  of  smoke — 
Weak  efhgies  of  heaven's  high  hanging  cUnids — 
To  stain  the  face  of  sweet-hreathed  crystal  day, 
'Ihit  little  leeway  gained!  their  tether  holds. 
Still  dragging  anchor  never  yet  ontsaikHl. 
Hallast,  the  lightest  air  ship  has  in  store! 
No  swift,  new-fangled   thing,   shall   loose   itself 
From  stress  of  social  help,  close  girtled  on; 
Who  works  alone,  works  toward  his  own  defeat. 


SI'.I   DRIl'T.  19 

SUtani      brcathinj;-     pride      yd      i)ufTs      right 
haughtily : — 
"Allegiance  owe-   I   not  to  tyrant  winds; 
On  my  own  way  J.  move  rcsistlessly  1" 

Move  what?  move  where?     Wlio  breaks  fra- 
ternal bonds? 
Ocean, — without   thy  help,  the  llighty  steam, 
No  vessel  at  its  back,  afloat  in  air, 
A  nerveless  mist,  would  die  as  dies  iiol   llame — 
Its  great  ships  stranded  in  a  zcjue  of  calm! 

Tribute,  all  meekly  yield  thy  majesty, 
And  rich  and  jeweled   glory  trail  astern  ; 
Sowing  thy  waves  with  regal  diadems; 
With   rivulets  of  cjuickened,  tossing  gems 
That  clash  and  Hash,  melting  in  softened  tones. 
Soft  wrai)ped  again  in  mothering  placid  blue. 
Silent  change  falls  back  to  claim  ])redestined  aid  ; 
Hand  h,eli>ing  hand,  ])igmies  like  giants  thrive. 


REST   IN    MOTION. 

Great  shijis  Imrry  East,  fast  ships  hurry  West! 
(irK)d  ships  on  the  (x-ean  are  havens  of  rest. 


%0  SEA  DRIFT. 

They  speed  like  a  lover  hope-bound  to  his  love; 
We  rest,  as  at  anchor,  the  blue  waves  above! 

Old  cares  may  not  harp, 

No  failure  to  carp, 
No  business,  no  pleasure  to  elbow  and  shove — 

To  elbow  and  shove ! 


Our  ship  on  its  way  to  the  uttermost  part, 
We  vibrate  like  branches  the  wood-zephyrs  start ; 
As  steadfast  as  they  in  our  sea-rhythm  swing; 
Like  the  hawk  sparrow,  resting,  poised  safe  on 
the  wing — 

We  idle  and  dream, 

Watch  sapphires  agleam, 
Charmed,  listen  unharmed,  when  sea  sirens  sing; 

The  sea  sirens  sing! 


The  sky  overhead  is  a  dome  for  the  gods, 
The  deep  blue  below  laughs  upwards  and  nods ; 
They  are  friendly  alike,  dark  azure  and  pearl, 
And  music  is  captured  in  wave  dash  and  swirl; 

The  bright  leap  of  fish. 

Completes  every  wish, 
As  the  onmarching  billows  white  pennons  unfurl ; 

White  pennons  unfurl! 


SEA  DRIFT.  21 

In  the  heart  of  the  storm  there  is  restfulness 

here, 
The  voice  of  the  tempest  our  clarion  of  cheer ; 
We  ride  up  to  heaven,  we  gUde  toward  the  earth. 
And  hug  cushioned  ease  for  all  it  is  worth; 

Right  on  the  ship  holds 

And  safety  enfolds, 
Secure  as  an  infant's  awaiting  its  birth ; 

Awaiting  its  birth ! 

So  we  ride  through  the  heavens,  at  ease  in  our 

place, 
We  look  the  bright  sun  from  all  sides  in  the  face, 
We  carry  the  moon  like  a  kite  on  a  string, 
Displacing  the  stars — old  Earth  on  the  wing ! 

We  chatter  and  smile. 

Like  lads  on  a  stile ; 
And  our  poor  little  pleasures  seem  everything; 

Seem  everything! 

Vast     purposes,     moving     with     swiftness     of 

thought, — 
The     idlers   half     dreaming    no    changes     are 

wrought, — 
Outstripping  the  lightning,  make  stars  seem  to 

creep ; 
But  a  clear  sun  is  shining  when  darkest  skies 

weep. 


22  SEA  DRIFT. 

And  the  light  of  the  eye 
Is  born  in  the  sky; 
And  so  mighty  forces  work  on  while  we  sleep; 
They  work  while  we  sleep. 


Taking  no  burdened  thought  of  life  or  death, 
In  all  thy  borders  making  holiday, 
Ocean,  thy  slippery  tenants  live,  rent  free. 
The   great-girthed,    sportive   monsters   roll   and 

leap 
Through     gladsome     waves     which    boil     with 

answering  mirth 
For  these  great  hoyden  children  of  thy  care. 
Sperm  whales,  uptossing  beakers  high  in  air, 
Find  sport,  by  harrying  monsters  of  the  deep — 
The  dread,  fierce  Krakens  with  their  scores  of 

arms. 
For  cousins,  blessed  with  daintier  appetites, 
The  small  sea  midges,  gay  in  dance  of  death, 
Sweep    down    the    coaxing    currents    of    whale 

breath ; 
And  least    becomes  the    greatest    through    sea 

change. 
Sea  ix)rcupines,  sly  eels,  who  shock  their  prey, 
Swordfish,  well  armed  and  strong,  and  savage 

tribes 


SEA  DRIFT.  23 

As  swift  of  fin  as  warring  birds  of  wing, 
Rival  all  passions  of  the  earth  or  air. 

But  argosies,  called  "men  of  war,"  disport 
In  bright  and  sunny  waters;  dainty  fleets 
Of  living  jewels.     These,  and  seagoing  birds. 
And  gentler  clans,  who  sail,  or  leap,  or  fly, 
Swift  flashing  into  view  in  beauty's  garb 
Make   kind   and  homelike,   wide,   age-treasured 

planes 
Else  shifting  purposeless  in  vague  unrest; 
And  gentleness  holds  court  in  azure  fields 
More  charming  than  elysian  emerald  groves. 
Sweet  gentleness  can  always  win  the  palm. 

Can  one  say  purposeless?    Monotonous, 
Perhaps,  to  voyager  weary  of  himself, 
And  blind  as  mole  to  piercing  blaze  of  light 
That    might    reveal    new    worlds,    urging   their 

claims ; 
But  purpose  brightens  face  of  every  wave. 
And  fills  the  rounded  sphere  of  every  drop. 

Who  skims  the  surfaces  of  ocean  deeps. 
Baptismal  home  of  motion's  wide  unrest, — 
Motion,  greatest,  and  least,  and  whole  of  change, 
Peopled  and  quick  with  mysteries  untold — 
May  fail  to  find  the  vital  soul  of  things 


24  SEA  DRIFT. 

Patent  and  beautiful  as  day  itself; 
Nor  catch  one  gleam  of  Liliputian  life 
Measured  by  pulses  in  pure  light  itself; 
Where  feeling  may  awake  in  vividness 
Whose   satisfactions  are  commensurate 
With  all  the  other  values  in  its  charming  world. 
One  v^^ater  droj)  can   serve  a  thousand  guests ; 
Then,  multiplied,  what  unique  hosts  may  thrive 
Unknown  mu\  all  undreamed  by  heedless  folk! 
No  one  has  fathomed  yet  the  mystery 
Of  microscopic,  brisk  and  agile  life 
That  intervenes  in  all  the  coarser  worlds, 
And  Ocean  its  fair  Eden  of  delight. 

But  life  marine,  in  space  to  us  allied. 
Sea  cousins,  tangible  if  far  removed. 
May  teach .  us  lessons  we  have  faikd  to  learn. 
These  curious  novelties  are  nuich  unknown. 
Because   thou,  kindly  Ocean,   shelterest  them 
In   cool,  salt-seasoned  waters  fathoms  deep. 

Some  living  things  that  grace  this  nether  world 
Are  queerest  half-made  guys,  as  wonderful 
As  schemes  of  metaphysics  men  have  made ; 
Fashioned  like  nothing  grown  beneath  the  sun. 
Art  thou  with  mother  Earth  in  rivalry 
For  odd  and  ugly  nurselings?     Thou  hast  won. 
Leviathans  and  smallest  dots  of  life 


SEA  DRIFT.  25 

Swim  side  by  side,  unequal  friends  or  foes ; 
All  equal  wards  of  thine,  who  shelterest  them 
Impartially,  as  mothers  brood  their  young. 

To  us,  most  beautiful  is  symmetry; 
To  thee,  the  need  oi  it  makes  love  more  free ; 
Crude    shapelessness    may    win    some   lovelier 

guise ! 
Shallow  and  small  the  thought  that  cannot  prize 
High  magnanimity  to  embryo  things 
Nurtured  in  covert  thy  long  fostering  brings. 
Poor  effigies  and  lilies  of  the  sea, 
Sea  kings  who  rule,  weak  ones  who  hide  and  flee, 
In  owing  unpaid  debts  must  all  agree. 

What  nameless  tribes  most  coolly  breathe  and 

thrive 
On  thy  exhaustless  storage  of  supplies ! 
And  in  sheer  ugliness  ungainly  strive. 
Of  every  quality,  and  shape,  and  size ; 
Some    chained,    life    prisoners  on    the    rugged 

rocks. 
Who  feed — as  helpless  else  as  stones  and  stocks ; 
And  others,  life-long,  restless  wanderers  rove; 
But  sheltered  all  by  thy  abounding  love. 

With  hooks,  with  screws,  with  spears,  sword 
panoplied. 
In  armored  scales,  cased  up  in  flinty  stone, 


ae  SEA  DRIFT, 

Bearing  rude  shields  or  richuy  carved  and  fine, 
Or  grown  all  arms  and  grasping,  reaching  claws, 
More  hideous  these  than  fancy  dares  to  dream. 
Some,   creatures  vague,   if  flesh  or  plant,   un- 

guessed ; 
To  meet  the  eye  of  day,  too  nerveless,  some 
Crumble  at  sight,  like  old  Pompeian  dough; 
More  pulpy  soft  than  boneless  marrow  these; 
Those,  winged  with  enterprise  to  test  fresh  air, 
And  those  mere  skeletons,  queer  frights  of  wire. 
Those  wearing  ribs  outside,  life  locked  within — 
As  bone  and  flesh  had  interchanged — 
More    shapeless    those     than    pictures    children 

scrawl, 
With  no  more  sanity  nor  less  of  spleen 
Than  insane  draughtsrnen  cleverly  invent — 
The  old  chimeras  wandering  here  alive. 


THE  UNKNOWN. 

If  small  crude  mysteries 
Breed  reverent  awe; 
And   strange   life  histories 
The  wisest  subtly  draw ; 
If  open  eyed  our  wonder 
At  new  undreamed  devices — 
As  born  of  curious  blunder. 


SEA  DRIFT.  27 

Yet   for  the  sea  suffices, 

And  if  we  find  there  everything 

However  odd  and  queer, 

Can  queerer  service  bring 

To  make  its  purpose  clear — 

Wliat  mysteries  great  Sea  itself  may  hold, 

What  more  than  world-wide  purposes  enfold, 

Waiting  thie  tand'Cm  ages,  slowly  to  be  unrolled ' 


28  SEA  DRIFT, 


III. 

Are  eyes  by  Nature  fitted 

To  light  of  different  kinds? 
Brain-stuff,  in  patterns  knitted, 

To  help  the  various  minds; 
Some  wearing  glasses  blue-tinged. 

Others  the  cheerful  red ; 
These  seeking  life  new  fringed, 

While  those  embalm  the  dead? 


Ocean,  who  calls  thee  somber,  grave  and  cold  ? 
Man's   saddest,   sharpest,   hateful   epithet 
Is  "moaning  sea,"  "the  ever-moaning  sea" ; — 
As  wrecked  on  waste  forlorn,  hopeless,  helpless, 
With  none  to  rescue  or  assuage  his  pain. 
Ocean  were  but  a  surging  vast  of  tears, 
A   "dreary,"   "dark"  and   "melancholy"   sea. 

I've  heard  pathetic  grief  for  human  ills. 
Like  funeral  music,  breathe  from  whitened  lips 
Of  marching  waves,  en  route   disconsolate; 
And  in  some  grievous  mood,  with  lives  at  stake. 


SEA  DRIFT.  29 

IVe  heard  them  sob  as  human  pity  might, 
Long  chanting  sadly  as  they  came  to  shore ; 
And  heard  low  moaning,  as  of  breaking  hearts 
In  rhythmic  grief,  when  mine  in  silence  broke, 
And  learned  their  tenderness  could  weep  with  me. 

I've  sometimes  felt  the  burden  of  the  world 
Was  borne  upon  the  Ocean's  aching  breast, 
Slow  floating  in  and  out  with  every  tide. 
Sweeping  in  widening  circles  to  the  soul 
Of  great  unrest,  which  must  the  burdens  bear 
Of  human  sin  and  woe  past  human  words. 
Strange  mysteries,  too  dark,  have  seemed  to  lurk 
Within  the  weary  deep  and  heavy  blue; 
Flapping,    like    wounded    bird,    poor    weighted 
wings. 

And  I  have  looked  when  every  wave  would 

kneel 
To  kiss  the  strand  and  prostrate  wait  in  prayer; 
As  pilgrims  come  afar  to  holy  ground; 
Then,  lifting  small  white  hands  in  thanks  and 

praise. 
Would  lapse  beneath  the  flood  as  dear  ones  lost, 
While  tender  voices  sang  enchantingly 
And  highest  Heaven  seemed  bending  down  in 

smiles. 


30  SEA  DRIFT. 

But  I  can  hear  the  singing,  bounding  steps 
Of  billows  jocund  with  the  tides  of  life; 
Plumed  warriors,  pressing  on  to  victory, 
White  crests  aloft  and  borne  right  jauntily; 
And  I  have  heard  a  rollicking  of  mirth 
Exuberant  as  laugh  of  clapping  leaves, 
Their  times  and  numbers  as  the  seashore  sands. 
Again,  a  blissful,  solemn  jubilance; 
As  though  stray  heavenly  hosts  sang  through  the 

vo'ice 
Of  diamond-ringing  joy,  their  songs  divine —     ; 
To  ear  and  eye,  vast  parables,  cheerful ; 
Encysted  love  and  all  beatitudes. 

Far  oftener  I  hear  clear  rising  trills, 
Sweet  melodies  of  half-imprisoned  joys 
That  neither  ask  nor  crave  release — pure  breath 
And  inmost  fiber  of  the  soul  of  peace 
And  joyousness — a  pleasant,  deep  content. 
The  waking  swoon  of  grateful  revery, 
A  lingering  dream  ;  not  thought  nor  feeling  quite, 
But  both  enwrought  in  one  full  ecstasy. 

Are  hearts  oft  made   of  kindlier  stuiT  than 
thine, 
Oft  moved  more  readily  to  each  appeal? 
Will  sweet  skies  always  w^eep  when  we  are  sad? 


SEA  DRIFT.  31 

And  yet  we  photograph  our  moods,  and  stamp 
Their  changing  hues  on  sea,  and  earth,  and  sky.. 
No  ears,  no  sound ;  and  sight  and  seen  make  one.. 
The  ears  that  note  great  Ocean's  worldless  songs,, 
Interpreting  as  best  they  may,  must  hear 
Voices  as  far  astray  as  truth  and  lies ! 
Waking  and  sleep,  pray  are  they  near  or  far? 
And  na.  es  almost  recalled,  where  do  they  hide, 
Waiting  on  tiptoe  for  the  open  door? 
We  all  do  miss,  ah,  how  unconsciously ! — 
Kept  back  by  ear-drum  buzzing  from  within — 
Grand  paeans  of  the  sea  of  many  tongues. 
Some  gifted  insects,  finer  voices  hear 
Than    wisest    men;    and    wood-taught    wildest 

brutes 
Catch  deep,  low  tones  to  which  mankind  are  deaf. 
May  human  vanity  lie  yet  more  low ! 


Great  crystal-hearted  Ocean,  bright  of  face, 
I  see  thee  fair,  tear-smiling,  like  a  bride. 
Thy  dimples  sweet  as  grow  on  maiden's  cheek ; 
Rippling,  glowing,  spreading  contagious  mirth. 
Sparkling  in  clearest  jets  of  holiest  glee, 
While  miles  and  miles  of  pleasant  laughter  grow, 
And  golden  waves  of  mist  breathe  lingering  joy ; 
And  sea-weeds,  dancing,  ring  soft  chimes  of  bells 
Jhe  happiest  angels  might  leave  Heaven  to  hean 


32  SEA  DRIFT. 

At  eventide,  when  jubilant  with  insect  mirth, 
The  fire-flies  sprinkle  lawns  with  starry  flames 
Which  mock  sedater  stars  in  heavenly  blue, 
I've  seen  thee  multiply  the  stars  themselves, 
Each  jocund  wave  repeating  sparklingly 
The  whole  bright  pageant  of  the  world  above; 
Its  thousand  eyes  of  solemn  joyousness 
Grown  countless  millions  more  of  golden  smiles 
Ensphered  in  thy  large  hospitality; — 
And  all  the  sea  a  shining  sea  of  stars, 
Dancing  with  music  and  with  chastened  mirth. 

And  in  the  fullness  of  the  moon,  I've  seen 
Her  comely  face  look  beaming  up  through  thine. 
Alive  with  roguishness  and  bright  content; 
And  hide  and  hide  again,  as  children  play; 
Then  ris'e,  and  dropping  silver  flood  from  far. 
Spread    wide   her   silver    shield    on    thy   broad 
breast. 

In  the  glad  leap  of  wavelets'  rhythmic  plash. 
Low  concerts  of  the  never  silent  sea, 
Clear,  sweetest  melodies,  come  coaxingly; 
Cheerful,  tender  as  mother's  lullaby ; 
Softly  saying:  "He  has  made  us  nothing  ill. 
Who  seeks  it  here,  shall  find  a  heart  of  pearl." 


SEA  DRIFT. 


SEA  JOY. 


Vapor  wreaths  are  nests  of  laughter, 

Sweet  and  clear; 
Echoes  softly  linger  after, 

Scattering  cheer; 
Every  dash  of  spray  is  smiling, 

Drunk  with  glee; 
Moonbeams'  clearest  light,  beguiling, 

''Welcome  me!" 

Plashing  wavelets,  wavelets  kissing, 

Rise  and  fall ; 
Curves  of  beauty,  never  missing 

Song's  own  thrall. 
Answering  back  to  leafage  whispers, 

Soft  and  slow; 
To  the  youngest  zephyr  lispers. 

Breathing  low. 

Molten  amber  shines  and  quivers. 

Crystal  ckar; 
Heaps  of  pearls  are  Indian  givers. 

Here,  not  here. 
Small  hands  lifted,  white  and  shining, 

Woo  the  air, 
Beckoning  to  the  high  blue ;  signing, 

"Come  and  share!" 


34  SEA  DRIFT. 

Ripples  flow  toci  back  reflow, 

Seas  of  smiles ; 
Dimples  spread  and  dimples  grow, 

Scheming  wiles. 
Sleeping  midnight — nothing  clangingy 

Soft  tones  press ; 
Hardest  granite  cliffs,  o'erhanging 

Tenderness. 


In  crispy  hbur  before  the  midnight  chimes, 
When  round  moon  beckons  slow  pervasive  clouds', 
Enchained  as  by  a  half-heard  melody 
Sent  echoing  softly  down  long  corridors. 
Transforming  sweetness  into  yet  more  sweet, 
I  watch  white  spirits  spread  magician's  cloth, 
In  snowy  rings  that  glisten  clear,  and  rest 
Broad  circlets  on  the  soothed  and  quiet  waves. 
'Great  tidal  voices  whisper;  and  the  moon 
Peeps  out  through  clouds,  as  with  a  single  eye; 
Draws  close  the  heavy  drapery  round  her  head, 
And  leaves  the  charmed  scene  just  visible — 
A  softened  cloud-light  hanging  broodingly 
Above  the  wondering  and  enchanted  world 
Of  land  and  sea. 

Something  breathing  quickly, 
I  hear  low  words : — ''Watch  now  the  elfin  play ! 


SEA  DRIFT.  35 

For  lighter,  brighter,  tricksy  folk  disport 
Above  the  mystic  wreathing,  weaving  flood 
Than    under    greenwood    trees    on    slumbering 

earth." 
Spirits  of  air,  of  twilight  and  moonlight,  move 
Like  pale  reflections,  quick  with  restless  joy; 
The  slender  ghosts  of  frost  flowers  and  of  dews 
Wave    dainty    scarfs    with    smiling,    charming 

grace ; 
And  glistening  forms  rise  up  from  every  wave — 
All  weaving  in  and  out,  and  changing  place 
In  vivid,  new  and  lovely  pantomime ; — 
Most  winning  pageants;  dainty  wraiths  of  ours. 
The  flitting  shades  set  free  by  floating  clouds, 
And  ether  sprites  released  by  throttling  air. 

The  spellbound  fishes  rise,  agape  and  gaze; 
Chained    limpets    on    the    rock    stretch    shining 

heads. 
The  crabs  and  lobsters  turn  their  goggle  eyes 
To  wondering  mirrors  of  the  charming  fete ; 
And  strange  sea  things,  till  now  invisible. 
Trail  softly  to  and  fro  in  measured  time; 
And  all  the  waters,  all  the  air  above 
Maintain  their  wondrous  hush  protectingly. 
But  now  the  full  round  moon  looks  bravely  out. 
Her  face  grown  large  with  wonder  and  delight; 
The  startled  clouds  retreat;  some  few  pale  stars 


36  SEA  DRIFT. 

Look  smiling  clown;  the  actors  melt  away 
Like  earthly  sprites  at  cockcrow ;  and  the  scene 
Takes  back   its  tumult  and  its  wonted  calm. 
Contrast  of  light  and  dark,  four-fold 
Enhances  glory  of  persisting  gainful  light. 


MOONBEAM  SONG. 

"Loves  in  Ocean,"  plead  the  moonbeams, 
"Lightly  climb  our  shining  stairs; 

Welcome  waiits  you,  true  as  noon-gleams, 
Clearest,  pure  ethereal  airs, 
Haunted  by  no  dream  of  cares. 

"Loves  in  Ocean,  thick  and  heavy, 

Daintiest  wraiths  of  crystal  brine; 

Fairest,  mist-robed,  dancing  bevy 

Of  sea-folk,  be  guests  of  mine! 
Fair  our  hills  and  valleys  shine. 

"Lightly  touch  we  your  dense  waters, 
Each  caress  almost  a  blow; 

Ocean's  lithesome  lovely  daughters. 
Climb  our  smiling  silver  flow; 
Like  the  white  clouds,  upward  go! 


SEA  DRIFT.  37 

"Dream  of  dreams,  our  ether  ocean, 
Daintiest  robe  of  purest  day ; 

Leave  your  world  of  rough  commotion ! 
Win  the  peace  of  Luna's  May, 
Only  queen  of  heaven  alway. 

"In  the  days  of  Titan  rangers, 

We  were  shaken  to  and  fro; 

Light  and  love  now  welcome  strangers ; 
Silver  fountains  overflow 
This  rich  radiance  below. 

"Moonbeams  swift  as  falling  starlight, 
Softer  than  the  eye  of  day, 

Venture  far  as  farthest  eye-sight, 

Come !  Along  the  sweet  blue  stray ! 

Lighted  smiles  point  out  the  way." 


THE  REPLY. 

"Coaxing,    white-robed    moonbeams,"    answers, 
sighing, 
Voice  of  tender  pathos  from  the  sea ; 
"To  climb  your  silver   stairways,  means  quick 
dying, 

To  mine  and  me. 


38  Sn.t  DRIFT. 

"Wc  caiinol  l)rc\'itlio  c^arth's  sunny  atmosphere? 

]^>llicr-l)rcatliinL;'  would  alas,  how  soon  I 
Straininq'  onr  coarser  snhstancc  thin  and  clear, 
Ovcrllow  the  moon ! 


"Earth's  swicetest  wooin^^  air  hends  softly  over, 
Sii^hinq-,  wins  onr  (rust,  and  lends  us  wings; 
But  too  venturesome  sea-disloyal  rover, 
Back  here  he  brings. 


"Swinginc;-  breeze,  and  foam,  and  lunmlt,  love  we, 

Roll  and  toss  of  never-resting  sea; 
Swift  through  briny  surges,  battling,  move  we. 
Joyous  and  free. 


"I'riends  of  all  the  reckless  uncouth  creatures 

(^lid^ing,  hiding,  tumbling  everywhere; 
We  should  miss  tluMr  ugly  homelike  features, 
Miss  the  life  we  share. 


"Sea-])1ight  damsels,  frankly,  kindly  meet  you; 

Wave  proud  (HH\an-welc(^tne.  sons  of  light; 
Moon-white  feet  steal  shyly  out  to  greet  you, 
Dancing  to-night. 


SEA  DRIFT.  39 

"Cheer     and     welcome     always,     moon-bright 
visitors ! 
Your  quicksilver  joy,  and  presence  fine, 
Make  friends,  and  more  than  willing  servitors, 
Of  me  and  mine/' 


MOONBEAMS'  SACRIFICE. 

"Loves  in  Ocean,"  sigh  the  mo<:»nl)eams, 
"Since  yon  may  not  come  to  us, 

We  forget  our  softest  Lune-dreams 
For  a  love  thai  welcomes  thus ; 
Tossing  sea  waves,  welcome  us ! 

^'Winds  and  billows,  wild  and  roughened 
Strengthen  daintiest  venturers  here! 

Hardier  sea  kin,  aged  and  toughened, 
Bid  us  moonbeams  banish  fear! 
Clearest  light  may  grow  more  clear. 

"Clothe  us  now  in  your  strong  raiment ; 

Silver  bright  we'll  gild  the  Main  ; 
Give  us  back  in  generous  payment. 

Reborn  life  on  ocean  plain ! 

When  we  die,  we  live  again.'* 


40  sh.i  nk'iir. 

Kvcry  i\ccd  so  ilono  in  kiiuliu'ss, 

Brii;liUMis  sea  aiul  land  t'oi  tuo;    • 

Civiii   in  lovt"  aiui  not   in  hliiuliu'ss, 
l>v  a   piKH'K'ss  alilu'iuv. 
Turns  all  clioss  io  sjoKl  lor  Ihcc. 


\ 


(ihul  ( >cc'an.  sparklini;  like  Ihe  Mue  abiwc 
With  i;oKUMi  evos  of  shininj;-  pure  tlolii^lil. 
Thy  clarkrsi  nii;lils  aro  li«;hloil  with  the  ^low 
or  llainos  iiiihimuHl ;  lit  up  hy  swanuinj;"  hosts 
^Vho  hiiK-  heliitul  their  separate  iu>thinL;ness 
In    hanks   i>l"   spKiulid    livinj;'   ine. 
Thev'te  like  the  rank  atul  t'lle  o\  luinian  kind. 
Horn  l>ul  oi  low  estate,  searee  reekoned  with. 
No  voiet>  oi  wcMi;ht.   they   eaeh   may   he  sneeretl 

(Knvn  ; 
I'lit    massed    in   strength,   ilemandinq    I'ull-voieeil 

elaim 
If  rii^'ht  or  wiom;     not  p^vwers  nor  potentates. 
Nor  laws,  nor  eonrts.  nof  wisdoni.  dare  withstand 
Coneise  tletnand  of  handed  multitudes! 


(irtnvn  sovereign  now,  hy  one  eiMuhinin*;'  will 
T1k\v   sweep  ohst  met  ions    fiom   the  opeti   path 
And  turn  (he  luidnii^ht  (hal  haek  to  iuhmi  ; 
So  shadows  tlee  hefore  these  shoals  of  tlanio ; 
The  darkness  lau_i;hs  in  daneini;  jnhilanec 


SEA  DRIFT,  41 

Of  torches  borne  by  sea-bred  will-o'-wisps, 
Who  vaguely  Hash  their  eheerful  mysteries. 

As  {(He  reveries  eonie  and  ^o  unwilled, 
There!   toward   the   south!    framed   elear   within 

the  gloom, 
Wrapped  up  as  in  transparent  subtle  flame, 
Outlining  him  from  head  to  lowest  fin, 
A  monarch  of  the  sea  swims  leisurely ; 
And  far  away,  now  lost,  now  found,  great  beasts 
Like  rooting  swine,  seem  wallowing  in  light — 
jJarkncss  of  sky  soft  lighted  1)y  the  sea. 
When    movement    stirs    the    dull    and    sleeping 

waves, 
They  wake  in  sea-born  stars ;  our  good  shi])'s  keel 
'Cuts  long  thick  slices  from  the  milky  way 
That  bands  and  brightens  far  the  laughing  sea. 

Thy  wildest  mustangs,  in  full  tournament 
Of    shoreward    rush,    piebald,    with    streaming 

manes. 
Are  not  more  picturesque  and  far  less  weird. 
Are  opal  days  of  sunshine  more  entrancing? 
Are  curtained  noons  of  shade  and  sliine, 
Now   moods,   now    sparkles    gleeful     as    child's 

laugh. 
Now  doubled  visions,  cloud  born  in  blue  sky? 


42  SEA  DRIFT. 

When  weary  of  the  day-Hght  joys  and  cares, 
I  steal  away  to  breathe  a  seaside  peace ; 
The  halcyon  day,  while  mother  birds  are  brood- 
ing, 
Folds  round  me  dim  and  sleepy  crooning  night. 
Pillowed  in  comfort  on  the  clean  washed  sand, 
I  hear  the  clear  high  tinkling  of  real  mirth, 
Like  liquid  breath  of  flutes,  shot  through  and 

through 
The  dash  and  solemn  roar  of  rising  tides. 


Listening  entranced,  the  joyous  rippling  trills 
Of  singing  birds  are  born  in  clinking  drops, 
Beating  sweet  song  against  their  harp  of  rocks. 
Are  the^e  soft  liquid  tones,  now  low,  now  shrill. 
The  pattered  lullaby  of  rains?  clear  chimes 
Of  ringing  bells?  the  far-off  low  of  kine? 
And  calling  bleat  of  silly  straying  sheep? 
The  ocean  voices,  rich  in  mimicry — 
Or  native  speech  of  changing  tuneful  waves? 
Is  ocean  mirror  both  of  sights  and  sounds, 
Its  life  responsive  to  all  life  of  change? 
The  tramp  of  hurrying  feet  on  city  streets 
Blended  and  punctured  as  with  liieavy  points; 
The  measured  tramp  of  armies  on  the  march, 
Are  each  repeated  In  the  endless  tread 
Off  serried  waves  in  stately  onward  sweep. 


SEA  DRIFT.  43 

Massed  waters  mock  the  thunder's  lengthening 

roll, 
And  human  voices,  toned  to  softened  cadences. 
Find  clever,  plain  reminder  in  sea  speech; 
And  far  off  wasted  symphonies  of  earth, 
How  subtly  caught,  are  copied  wondrously. 
Does  Nature's  whole  great  orchestra 
Prolong  its  life  within  the  echoing  sea? 
Or  do  a  tliousand  ocean  voices  breathe 
A  wealth  of  feeling  born  of  sentient  life — 
Broad  Nature  one  in  generous  inmost  heart? 


Glad  waves  are  blue-green  foliage  of  the  sea, 
Fair,  crested  white  with  blooms  of  crowning  bliss. 
As  face  to  face  looks  up  from  silent  pool, 
Earth's  best  and  worst,  farces  and  tragedies. 
Pictures  of  this  but  half  sunlightcd  world, 
Are  held  in  replica  in  Ocean's  heart 
Of  facile,  faithful,  limitless  response. 
If  we  could  read  full  tcx^s  in  water  stored. 
Accepted  and  preserved  in  Nature's  script; 
Her  fine  and  sure  economies  revealed, 
Her  shadowed  purposes  of  high  intent ; 
These  must  unfold  a  wise  and  structural  wealth. 
Held  sacred ;  shrined  in  ocean  smiles  and  tears. 


44  SEA  DRIFT. 

Mankind  should  kneel  to  thy  beneficence, 
Vast  duplicate  of  heaven's  own  cheerful  blue; 
The  world's  protecting  girdle,  amber  pure 
And  fair;  the  infinite  made  visible.. 


SEA  DRIFT.  45 


IV. 


Ocean,  more   changeful   than   the  wandering 
winds, 
For  moods  more  fitful  than  caprice  of  clouds. 
For  brave  rich  song  in  lapse  of  kindling  waves, 
And  glorious  symphonies  in  rush  of  tides; 
For  every  ripple  laughing  up  to  heaven 
And  sobbing  its  own  loss  in  music's  voice; 
For  tossing  bubbles  breaking  soft  in  laughter ; 
For  bands  of  color,  rich  in  shaded  blues 
And  bright  chameleon  changes,  many  hued — 
In  sunshine  all  aglow,  asleep  in  shade ; — 
For   hurrying  drifts  of   foam,   whose   lingering 

clasp 
Breaks  out  in  air- fed  blooms  of  snowy  wealth ; 
For  billows  fleet  of  foot,  hoar  white  of  head. 
Leaping  like  goat-herds  over  gray  old  rocks 
That  rise  to  drive  them  back,  and  hold  the  land ; 
For  hints  of  deep  and  solemn  mysteries, 
Great  unknown  ways  all  these  cannot  reveal ; 
For  every  wile  of  daring  changefulness — 
But  lace  and  ribbons  fluttering  in  full  dress, 
The  changing  play  of  age-long  steadfastness 


46  SEA  DRIFT, 

For  all  of  these  we  freely  give  thee  love, 
By  thy  entrancing  held  in  willing  thrall. 


Are  dearest  songs  we  know  more'  changeful 

sweet 
Than  Ocean's  wordless,  thoughtful  melodies? 
Are  land-nursed,  charming,  fruitful,  blithesome 

moods — - 
Of  growth,  of  autumn  glow,  and  fall  of  leaves. 
And  lovely  carven  shapes  of  ripened  fruits? 
Or  winter's  interlacing  lifted  boughs. 
Adding  their  beauty  to  the  rarest  sky? 
Are  all  of  these  ten  thousand  precious  gifts 
Of  loves  and  treasures,  dear  to  dear  old  Earth — 
Fair  flowers,  staid  mountains,  and  lithe  moving 

forms 
Alive  with  joy,  and  hope  and  energy — 
Are  these  more  rich  in  keen  vivaciousness 
Than  Ocean's  changes,  never  patented. 
Nor  ever  twice  the  same,  and  never  stale? 


One  only  pities  him  who  cannot  find 
Unending  rich  enjoyment  in  them  all; 
He  lives  estranged  from  gentlest  kith  and  kin 
The  sympathy  of  life,  its  poetry, 
Are  volumes  still  unopened  or  half  closed. 


SEA  DRIFT.  47 

Ocean,  thy  friendliness  spans  all  the  world, 
Giving  fresh,  breezy  handshakes  to  all  lands ; 
Far  stretching  on  to  every  land-wooed  cove, 
And  bearing  tides  of  blessing  to  them  all. 
The  pleasant  Earth  and  all  that  is  therein 
Would  be  but  flying  dust,  to  thee  unwed. 

In  curve  of  beauty,  blended  with  the  sky. 
Which  drops  its  splendid  arch  the  full  half  way 
Along  the  line  of  close  fraternity — 
The  circle  of  closed  love  to  ravished  gaze — 
Yet  thou  art  ready  for  the  lightest  play 
That  claims  thee  its  sustaining  providence ; 
And  almost  too  responsive  to  the  calls 
Of  tricksy  winds  who  make  and  mar  thy  fame. 
Since  all  the  powers  coequal  partners  are. 
They  justly  merit  praise  alike  and  blame; 
Yet  now  we  lift  our  psalm  for  thee  alone. 
Transient  and  permanent,   full-orbed  great  sea, 
Best  type  of  both  identity  and  change. 


THE  SHORE. 

It  is  good  to  stand  on  a  lonely  shore, 

Where  winds  are  free  to  whistle  and  sweep, 

When  waves  mount  high  and  the  billows  roar 
And  echo  broods  over  the  briny  deep. 


48  SEA   DRIFT. 

Dun  picturesque  hosts  on  the  heavenly  blue, 
Intent  on  their  mission  of  reckless  might, 

The  marshallini;-  clouds  £2^0  hurrying;-  througih, 
Sweeping"  in  liasto  to  the  zenith  of  night. 

Contagion   of    frcoilom !     More   wiUl    and    more 
blessed. 

Our  dreaming  exultingly  sweeps  the  sky ; 
And  nestles  outworn  in  th<?  stars  for  rest, 

Overawed  bv  visions  too  mighty  and  hioh. 


Ocean  is  patron  of  a  jovial  crew 
Who  hail  the  cloud-capped  moon  with  jeers  or 

cheers 
Like  watch  dogs'  bay,  of  most  uncertain  sound. 
That  keys  each  wondering  ear  to  mystery. 

One  climbing  moinitains,  drags  up  leaden  feet. 
Made  light  as  cork  in  face  of  landscajie  spread 
Far  down  beneath,  in  beauty  glorified ; 
And  so  one  wakes  to  niooils  of  freakish  winds. 

The  hooded  demons  of  tde  iL)ree7y  night, 
]\Tcre  flighty  wisj^s,  stretcbi  up  to  giant  heights. 
Then  shrink  to  puny  dwarfs,  just  visible. 
Out-doing  little  Alice  in  her  wonderland. 


SEA  DRIFT.  49 

Blithe  night  at  every  port — puppets  half  real, 
Half  shadows  of  the  real — has  no  true  peer 
In  brisk,  uncertain,  piping  revelry. 
Phantoms — now  beautiful  as  dawn,  now  frights 
The  sea  folk  try  to  screen  from  lawless  gaze — 
Gray-draped    and    fleet    of    foot ;    odd,    lissome 

shapes ; 
All  tread  the  checkered  moonbeams  warily. 
At  bo-peep,  lipfhft  and  shade  slip  in  and  out 
Like  needle  in  and  out  of  stocking  foot ; 
Now  lost,  now  quickly  found  in  other  guise. 
Mailed  shoulders  flashing  bright  like  burnished 

steel  ;— 
As  ghosts  of  armies,  reconciled,  clasped  hands, 
And  bowed  and  waved  in  stately  amity. 


Yonder,  the  bolder  comers  whirl  and  skirl 
In  leaps  of  reckless  maddened  fantasy. 
How  royally  they  spring  from  crest  to  crest 
Of  piled  up  whiteness  over  chasms  dark, 
Like  startled  kids  from  mountain  crag  to  crag! 
Great  roaring  giants  come,  reach  out  long  arms 
Across  the  night,  and  spread  their  fluttering  robes 
Until  they  veil  the  sky  and  all  the  stars. 
Are  these  the  ancient  cheerful  gods  returned 
For  glimpses  of  the  moon  who  hides  her  face, 
Yet  peeps  anon  to  see  if  all  is  well  ? 


50  SEA  DRIFT. 

The  sea  and  air  take  hands  and  draw  more 
close 
To  whistling  loud  and  merry  of  the  winds ; 
The  crested  mountains  rise,  leaping  with  joy, 
And  fling  wdiite  foam  as  winter  piles  up  snow 
To  light  the  over-darkened  scenery ; 
And  gazing  clouds,  to  mark  their  sympathy, 
Flash  rapid  signals  in  a  code  of  light 
That  comes  unread  and  melts  out  silently. 

Chorus  of  reeds  and  rushes  breaks  in  sound 
Along  the  shore  which  answers  song  with  song: 
And  ever}^  stiffened  grass-blade  sways  in  tones 
Diverse,  blending  in  shrill  and  high  accord. 
Old  Pan  and  his  wild  followers  have  come 
To  heighten  music's  sea-born  revelry ; 
And  land  and  sea  make  one  vast  orchestra. 
Triumphant  motion  sw^eeps  from  shore  to  sliore, 
Strong  billows  whitening  wiith  the  frost  of  age. 

Tired   school  boys,   long  imprisoned  at  their 

desks, 
Wriggle  and  twist  all  devious  ways  at  once — 
Each  rounded  limb  a  separate  moving  screw, 
Kept  w^inding  contrawise  in  keen  revolt; 
So,  in  the  land-locked  bays  or  far  at  sea, 
Wlien  fair  skies  smiled,  and  cloudlets  hanging 

high 


SEA  DRIFT.  61 

Were  lent  thee  in  sweet  duplicates — comfort  and 

cheer — 
And  with  small  sea  birds  rested  peacefully 
On  kindly  waters,  fairer  than  their  wont ; 
Ocean,  I've  seen  thee  move  and  counter  move 
In  countless  acres  of  a  huge  unrest ; 
As  straining  muscles,  clutched  by  unseen  might, 
Subdued,  were  prisoned  by  a  thousand  cords. 
Are  quiet,  peace  and  beauty,  sedatives? 
And  reckless  stir  of  life  a  wholesome  goad 
Even  when  it  hurts  and  wounds  us  ruthlessly? 

When  wildest  holiday  of  sport  begins, 
When  gladdened  sea  folk  roll  and  leap  and  dive, 
When  imps  of  pricking  mischief  rule  ana  reign, 
Then,  plunging  headlong  into  boisterous   feats, 
The  mightiest  waters  loosed  from  hard  restraint. 
All  jovial  voices  piping  jubilee, 
Motion  itself  grown  mad  with  merry  change ; 
Great  billows  surge  in  rampant  eagerness 
To  snatch  their  foaming  drafts  of  zestful  life ; 
Huge  waves  are  winged  with  tempests ;  unknown 

deeps 
Of  thy  stirred  soul  rise  high  in  ecstasy; 
Chaos  of  winds  and  waters  reigns  supreme. 

From  these  mad  tumults,  dangers  manifold, 
Health  picks  its  flowers  of  safety,  guaranteed. 


52  SEA  DRIFT. 


SAILOR  SONG. 

Great  cross-winds  are  battling  for  triumph  to- 
night. 

Their  mighty  fists  pounding  the  sea  with  dehght ; 

And  the  waves,  striking  back  with  a  dash  and  a 
roar. 

Water-dust  fills  the  air,  like  a  dry  threshing  floor ; 

My  steed  prances  gaily,  and  welcomes  the  fray, 

And  we  are  a  part  of  the  tempest  at  play. 

The   gazing   stars    laughing   and    shaking   their 

heads, 
Bright  fish  leaping  up  from  their  wind-shaken 

beds, 
White   foam-horses   rearing  like   mustangs   un- 

broke, 
Bowing  low  to  the  billows  our  mast  of  stout  oak, 
Black  rain  clouds  approaching  on  wings  of  the 

night, 
And  darkness  devouring  the  children  of  light; 

Press  onward,  my  fleet  one,  of  strong,  willing 

feet! 
Right  on  through  the  wiave-lifts,  r'ide  into  the 

sleet ! 


SEA  DRIFT.  53 

The  full  moon  still  peering,  wild  winds  whistling 

high, 
They  cheer  our  dash  onward  to  calm  by  and  by ; 
But  better  we  love  the  loud  ''yo  heave !"  and  toss 
Of  the  sharp  clashing  billows,  with  sword  blades 

that  cross! 

Swift  into  the  black  lift  and  under  the  sleet, 
Plunge  onward,  my  beauty,  with  glad,  willing 

feet; 
Dip  deep  in  the  sea  foam  thy  glistening  shrouds, 
And  gay  as  the  bird  flies,  mount  up  to  the  clouds; 
Lean  backwards,  careening  to  waters  below, 
Careering  in  triumph,  as  onward  we  go. 

Plunge   into   sea  mountains,   drive   on   through 

the  sleet. 
No  wetter,  my  best  love,  but  ever  more  fleet; 
The  live  hills  beneath  us  are  running  a  race, 
The  full  moon  is  baffled  and  black  in  the  face; 
But  onward  wc  dash  in  the  teeth  of  the  gale, 
And  the  frown  of  the  sky,  wliiose  starry  eyes  fail ! 


Sailors  all  love  thee  most  in  boisterous  moods. 
When  reckless  tumult  claims  thee  for  her  own — 
Thy  amethysts  and  sapphires,  charcoal  turned. 


54  SEA  DRIFT. 

And  steel-blue  sword-blades  drawn  and  flashing 

free; 
As  skillful  sea  folk  were  at  deadly  war, 
And  life  and  peril  working  way  together. 
But  gallant  lads  at  home,  crave  too  thy  gifts 
Of  versatile  renown.     Gently,  for  these 
Repel — with  kindly  waves  !     The  mother's  heart 
Is  almost  broken  when  her  missing  boy 
Has  left  her  clinging  arms  for  love  of  thee. 
Yet  mothers,  too,  leave  choicest  sheltered  homes 
To  stroll  along  thy  shores  in  roughened  winds, 
And  salted  spray,  and  roar,  and  restlessness. 
And  wondrous  charm  of  rising,  falling  tides ; 
Eager  to  share  thy  moods  and  live  thy  life — 
The  fascination  all  too  sweet  and  strong 
For  murmuring  at  rude  discomforts  shared. 

How  many  loving  hearts  have  yearned  for  thee 
As  trees  reach  up  for  sunshine's  bath. 
As  insects  struggle  up  from  chrysalis 
To  wings,  and  light,  and  life-sustaining  air! 
Most  fervent  many  lovers  thou  canst  win, 
And  hold  in  lively  bonds  of  sympathy 
Which  time  nor  distance  makes  less  consecrate ! 


SEA  DRIFT.  55 


ON  THE  SANDS. 

A  little  child  sat  on  the  clean  shore  sand, 

His  new  wooden  spade  in  his  small  brown  hand ; 

He  was  digging  a  well  on  the  beautiful  strand. 

Three  slender  gay  sandpipers  trotted  about, 
With  the  pearl  of  the  waves  they  chased  in  and 

out, 
On  wee  spindle  legs  that  will  never  grow  stout. 

Two  fishhawks  were  floating  high  up  overhead, 
Their   pointed   gray   wings   great   banners   out- 
spread ; 
And  one  darted  down  like  an  arrow  new  sped. 

A  butterfly  drifted  along  like  a  leaf, 
Lighted  shyly  a  moment,  tired  out,  on  a  reef, 
Then  fluttering  inshore  saved  his  life — ^all  too 
brief. 

Western  sun  burns  dim  through  a  golden  haze 
That  catches  and  tangles  full  half  of  his  rays, 
Down  slanting  the  rest  for  an  Eastern  blaze. 

Soft  and  balmy  the  air,  and  every  breeze 
Has  an  August  languor  and  love  of  ease. 
That  captures  the  senses  on  evenings  like  these. 


66  SEA  DRIFT. 

Small  Willite  has  wandered  an  hour  on  the  beach, 
Many  treasures  has  found,  most  wonderful  each ; 
And  they  all  lie  marshalled  within  his  reach. 

The  ocean  tumbles  and  falls  at  his  feet, 
Its  clamorous  voices  grow  softer  and  sweet. 
As  a  queer  old  legend  it  seems  to  repeat. 

"In  fourteen  hundred  and  ninety-two, 

Columbus  sailed  on  the  ocean  blue, 

And  he  found  a  world  that  was  strange  and  new.'* 

The  child,  g'azing-  eagerly  over  the  main, 
Saw  a  far-off  land  that  he  knew  was  Spain ; 
And  the  queer  old  ships;  they  were  there  quite 
plain. 

Splendid  ships  and  brave!    Spanish  flags  hung 

high, 
White  bellowing  sails  uprose  on  the  sky ; 
And  he  knew  that  the  venturesome  quest  was 

nigh. 

Then  there  blossomed  in  beautiful  shining  light — 
Growing  right  on  the  sea,  to  Willie's  delight, — 
Whole  acres  of  roses,  golden  and  bright. 


SEA  DRIFT.  57 

Tlicy  covered  the  slii])s,  the  llc'i<;s  and  llie  land, 
They  grew  in  the  sky  till  it  glowed  like  a  hrand  ; 
The    startleil    boy    murmured,    *T    don't    under- 
stand 1" 

lie  opened  his  eyes  and  looked  timidly  round ; 
Was  the  broken  moon  there,  and   right  on  the 

ground  ? 
He  could  not  wait  now  till  his  treasures  were 

found. 

But  he  ran  like  a  deer  and  (Micd  to  mamma 

(Wiser  than  Solomon  she  was  by  far)  : 

''Why  did  the  moon  shoot  and  burn  like  a  star?" 

THE  PLkJULSCITE. 

In  torrid  months,  when  Sol  pours  steely  beams, 
Like  barbed  arrows  shot  in  burning  gleams. 
The  overwhelming  verdict  would  be  foimd  : 
"Seaside  preferred  to  all  the  wide  earth's  other 
ground." 

A  scattering  would  vote  for  mountain  heights, 
Just  ''killing  something"  one  of  man's  delights, 
And  Midas  kings,  who  karn  to  write  in  gold, 
Give  preference  to  "Wall  Street"  whiether  hot  or 
cold. 


58  -V/'V/  nh'ii'T. 

Nice,  j^onllo  women,  linj^^iiij^  dear  lioiiic  walls, 
'I  liey  would  not  lu'cd  our  f(K)lish  modern  calls; 
lUit  yoiilliful  beauty,  .and  yoniif^  enerj^y, 
Would  jj:ladly  vote  twice  over,  both  times  for  the 
sea. 


And  tbey  wbo  bi'ar  tlie  brunt  of  honest  toil, 
Would  suJTra^e  cast    for  restful  wave- washed 

soil ; 
The  overmasteriu}^  verdict  rinj^in^  true, 
'Give  us  siunmer  outinj^s  beside  the  wide  free 
bluer 


The  pale,  siiek  p^irl  would  pve  soft  joys  of  life 
lM)r  purest  draught  of  healinp^  seasi<le  breath; 
And  old  men,  palsied  with  the  weipht  of  years, 
Refuse  to  die  till  near  thee  once  aj^ain. 
Ah.  thou  hast  won  a  human  loyalty, 
Almost  as  wide  as  thy  beneficence. 
And  heavy  eyes  lij^ht  up  at  sip;ht  of  thee 
As  pebbles  brij^hten  with  the  kiss  of  waves. 
Thr  fcNcred  brain,  when  lost  to  all  thinj^s  else, 
Will  babble  of  iby  cooling',  salt  sea  air 


SUA   DRII'T.  59 

So  ^(Hn\  (()  brcailiic — tlixii"  of  new  life; 

Swt.'('l    wind    lliat    l)Iow.s   sick   tohwcbs    from   llin- 

mind  ; 
'I  lie  Ionic  N.'ilnrc  slill  renews,  and  holds 
in  lier  exhaustlcss  store,  for  all  who  srek. 
In  dreams,  one  sees  hri^hl  walers  Mash  on  shore 
And  turn  a^ain  relnelanlly,  east  down 
'I'hat  none  are  here  to  revel  in  their  joy  ; 
()ne  hears  sea-voices  nuninnr  pleadinj^ly, 
And  he^s  them  lay  him  in  Iheir  coolinj^  .irnis, 
Jdiat  he  may  rise  at  morn  his  s(ren}.;lh  rencwe(I. 

In  dre.ams,  one  rich  in  lieallh,  lonj;  miles  inland, 
rillowed  on  eider  down,  in  shaded  |)eac-e. 
Can  hear  the  eclioinj;  ninsic  of  the  sea, 
And  feel  the  slnml)rons  rockinj.;  of  the  waves, 
riacid  and  genial  in  sw<'et  moods  of  calm  ; 
Slirrin;^'  as  Scottish  l)a^j)i|)e,  in  the  wind; 
And  even  dreaminj.;  thus,  adds  lirallh  lo  health, 
Willi  joy  in  rich  and  hice/.y  seaside  life. 
And  wakinjj;-,  ])ilotcd  hy  saner  thonjj;^ht, 
Retnrn  to  visions  dear  and  charminjj;  once, 
Is  twofold  sweeter  as  they  beam  a^^ain, 
liri^'^htened,  softened,  drawn  closer  each  with  e.K  h 
And  made  more  nei}.;hhorIy  than  in  their  yonlh. 

A  mystic  paj^eant  rises  fa<  in;.;  (  lilf 
Hanging  above  an  endless  woild  oi  walers. 


60  SEA  DRIFT. 

rVoiii  far  away,  where  sea  and  sky  are  one, 

A  t^^rowing  silver  plant  seems  blossoniinj;-. 

Now,   crescent   light   climbs   np.    till    round    full 

moon 
Grows  clear  at;ainsl  the  higher,  smiling  blue. 
Dappled  with  cloudlets  in  new  robes  of  white; 
A  sea  of  silver  Hoods  the  eye  and  lueart 
With  sheen  so  beautiful  there's  no  forgetting. 

Another  picture  claims  its  welcome  jilace ; 
A  glorious  hilltop  Hanked  with  neighboring  hiills, 
Slux^p-cropped  and  bare;  uplifted  to  the  sky 
Til  charming  rounded  forms,  hill  piled  on  hill, 
luicircling  these,  the  Ocean  ;  in  the  West, 
Its  winding  inlets  broaden  into  lakes 
Almost  beneath  our  feet.     The  setting  stm, 
First  drojiping  golden  sparkles  that  reb(^iuul 
And  startle  us  with  shining  mazy  dance, 
I'he  little  ripples  burning  with  delight; 
Then  throwing  (^ut  a  solid  bridge  of  gold 
iM-om  water's  v(\i^v  to  edgc^ — sky  wed  to  earth 
T?v  this  wide  band  of  sympathy 
Seems  birthj-jlace  of  a  new  earth  glc^rified ; 
And  suddenly,  the  clouds,  as  witnesses, 
Light  up  like  scattered  rainbows,  soft  of  tone; 
While  all  the  many  sleeping  waters  near 
Kepc>at  the  miracle  of  colored  joy 
In  tenderness;  copies  more  dainty  fair 


SEA   DRirr.  G\ 

Than  sky's  originals.     Old  Ocean  beams, 
llis  deep,  great  anlluin  grown  more  nuisical. 

Memories  crowd  for  ])lace:  A  long  gold  line 
Tracking  its  silent  way  tlircjiigli  evening  shades, 
Along  a  darkened  sleeping  hay,  for  miles  ; 
The  onward  How  of  rich  imhroken  light, 
A  tril)nte  of  one  lighted  heacon  tower, — 
More  golden  bright  than  wings  of  bntterHies 
To  beauty's  world  ; — a  sea  of  molten  gold 
In  flitting  i)lay,  like  burning  window  panes, 
The  still  light  turned  to  moving  life 
By  magic  dance  of  gentle  rippling  waves. 

Then,  seascape  of  a  thousand  purple  shades 
Commingling  and  enhaneing  richest  dyes, 
The  sea  and  sky  exchanging  courtesies 
So  intimate  eaeh  seems  the  other's  self — 
Upon  the  one  a  little  lloek  of  birds, 
At  home  and  restfnl  as  the  floating  sheen. 
And  in  the  other,  birds  on  wing;  the  sky 
To  them  as  homelike  as  the  purple  waves — 
One  harmony,  one  rounded  sphere  of  sight. 

Sharp  elbowing  this  lovely,  joyous  ealm ; 
Enchanted,  like  tihe  ri])pling  song  we  liear; 
A  hasty  tempest  with  its  ront  and  roar, 
Its  jangle  of  great  waves  in  inky  black, 


62  SEA  DRIFT. 

And  we,  atoss  between  the  sea  and  sky! 

The  fiying  ship,  a  ball  for  giants'  play 

Who  yet  pay  high  rewards  in  proud  display 

Of  majesty,  reckless  in  sharp  retort; 

Swift  lightnings  wake  the  solemn  thunder's  voice, 

And  shattered  clouds  roll  by  in  wondrous  pomp. 

Close  on  the  heels  of  wrack — on  peaceful  blue, 
A  full-rigged  ship  stands  out,  white  sails  afloat, 
Its  keel  above,  its  mastheads  dipping  down 
To  greet  the  wondering  sea's  uplifted  gaze — 
The  graceful  fairy  waif  upon  the  sky 
As  well  content  as  on  the  placid  sea — 
A  thing  of  beauty  and  "3.  joy  forever," 
Uplifting  soul  to  mirage  of  its  own. 

Bright  memories  that  clearer  grow  with  time 
Become  the  open  windows  to  a  vanished  past 
Through  which  we  look  and  recreate  young  joys, 
Alight  with  splendors  of  the  rising  sun ; 
Distance  enchanted.     In  the  roseate  glow 
Kindled  on  mountain  peaks  of  joys  and  hopes 
Half  realized,  a  rich  prophetic  more 
Burns  in  with  warmth  that  quickens  autumn's 

pulse. 
Life's  mansions  have  exhaustless  stores  of  wealthy 
And  heart  can  nothling  crave  it  may  not  win.! 


SEA  DRIFT.  (J3 


DOLCE  FAR  NIENTE. 

When  skies  rain  heat  and  still  airs  grieve, 
Our  longing  hearts  to  Ocean  cleave, 

Drawn  on  by  love  through  many  a  rood ; 
There,  sparkling  ripples  raise  clean  hands ; 
And  voices  pure  as  high  commands, 

Breathe  hope,  and  praise,  and  gratitude. 

Sea's  little  children,  newly  found — 
Hand-clasping  dimples — wander  round, 

Embodied  dreams  in  cheerful  mood, 
And  babes  of  foam  laugh  thanks  to  God — 
No  play  so  light,  staid  Earth  has  trod — 

No  tribute  paid  more  true  and  good ! 

Ignoring  care  and  all  that  crew, 
They  babble  on  in  language  new. 

Rare  fancies  feed  on  mystic  food ; 
Thought,  wandering  with  the  eye  afar, 
Looks  through  where  sky  lets  down  its  bar, 

And  burdened  lives  forget  to  brood. 


When  grand  high  tempests  rage,  and  swift  as 

light 
Come  battling  winds ;  when  angry  billows  sweep 


64  SEA  DRIFT. 

From  shore  to  shore ;  when  surging  waters  rise 
To  great  and  awesome  heights,  as  earthquake 

born; 
And  all  the  fountains  of  the  mighty  deep 
Are  broken  up,  and  sound  is  magnified 
Until  it  rends  the  dome  of  heaven  in  twain ; 
And  hurtling  spears  of  flame  strike  through  and 

through 
'ine  heart  of  night,  as  slaying  monstrous  wrong; 
And  darkness  swallows  sea,  and  earth,  and  air; 
Then  heart  of  puny  man  may  hide  in  fear, 
Or  lift  itself  in  awe  of  power  uncurbed. 

The  elemental  forces  missiles  hurl 
Against  each  other,  mad  to  overthrow 
All  dynasties  except  their  own,  and  shake 
The  staid  foundations  of  the  universe ; 
But  God's  great  mandate  firm  has  grounded  them 
In  ever  banded  strong  fraternity. 
To  slay  one's  neighbor  is  to  slay  oneself. 

The  awful  majesty  of  deathless  might 
Becomes  more  sane,  and  angry  rising  heights 
Of  piled  up  waters  face  the  bending  skies. 
Content  to  execute  unknown  behests. 
The  lifting  up  of  ocean's  voice  in  tones 
Which  long  reverberate,  calls  back  the  world 
To  great  suggestions-,  strange,  unutterable; 


SEA  DRIFT.  65 

And  thoug^ht  flies  far  beyond  thy  utmost  bound 
To  greet  more  vast  embodiments  of  power — 
All  these  but  fringe  upon  His  garment's  hem 
Who  holds  the  winds  and  waters  in  His  hand. 

Soon    clear- faced,   holy   calm    returns;    more 
sweet 
For  awful  grandeurs  past,  more  beautiful. 
The  hushed  and  sun-kissed  sea,  cradled  in  light. 
And  lulled  in  music,  murmurs  dreamily. 


66  SEA  DRIFT. 


Ocean,  in  thy  iinfathomed,  caverned  deeps, 
Where  wavelcss  stilhiess  Hes,  and  silence  broods, 
The  reverent  sea  perennial  sabbathi  holds — 
Chanc^^e  overawed  by  calm  and  sheltered  peace. 
Half  shades  that  waver,  foster  pale  distrust; 
But  settled  night  breathes  deep  serenity, 
As  all  the  gi^ods  knelt  doAvn  in  silent  prayer. 

Broad  nature  balance  holds  of  light  and  dark, 
One  arm  weighed  down  by  rayless  density, 
And  one,  fair  freighted  with  white  smiles,  aloft. 
The  pointing  hand  of  sovereign  day  in  banish- 
ment, 
Eyes  were  superfluous  here  for  living  things 
If  gifted  rangers  did  not  sometimes  pierce 
The  hooded  night  with  cheerfulness. 
And  make  the  solemn  darkness  visible. 
Here  free  and  large  all  hospitality. 
Healthful  and  clean  as  sun-warmed  vital  air — 
Each  weed  as  nicely  wrought  as  sunniest  bank  of 
flowers. 


SEA  DRIFT.  67 

Within  thy  locked  abysses,  house-room  giver, 
Are  many  mansions  never  yet  unveiled, 
Where  cotmtless  tribes  abide  and  eat  thy  bread. 
And,  ever  prudent,  breathe  thy  breath, 
And  win  from  fruitful  waters  all  they  crave. 
Anchored   to   earth,   these   wait   the   gifts   thou 

bring'st. 
Nor  lift  the  raven's  cry;  these  clasp  the  rocks 
As  trustingly  as  babe  its  mother's  breast ; 
These  swim  serenely  through  the  densest  floods 
With  heavy  homely  poise  and  dignity ; 
These  creep,  or  hide  in  basement  sands — content 
Commensurate  with  thy  deep  gravity. 


All  love  thy  calm,  as  insects  moving  winds, 
Finding  no  hindrance  in  full  quietude ; 
But  clothe  them  in  thy  sable  smooth  attire. 
More  proud  than  flunkies  in  gay  liveries. 
As  we  on  stable  Earth,  soft  days  they  pass. 
At  ease  upon  thy  many-storied  floors, 
folded  in  silken  sheets,  nor  feel  the  weight 
Of  thy  tall  columned  pillars  overhead, 
No  more  than  we  our  pauseless  flight  through 

space. 
Jlere  live  vast  hosts  no  false  ambition  drives. 
The  chartered  lowly  ones,  who  fear  no  fall. 
Who  wear  the  lightest  or  most  ponderous  shields 


r>8  siLi  DRirr. 

More  easily  than   tiionarchis'  sliiniiii;-  crowns, 
INIcotini;"  staid  ilostiuN    in  donso  rc^pdso. 

Small     cov:\\     wovkcvs    build     tcnvards    tippor 
wdrlil. 
And  sca-i;ri\ii  kolp  outrcaclios  riMnmcd  arms. 
SoarcliinL:"  for  lij^lit  and  air;  hut  tlnivino-  liordes 
In   tlicir  sun-world  of  Iciii^tluMunl   silences 
And  ancient  nii^'lit — whore  time  n(^  measure  has. 
And  primal  darkness  knows  not  liidil   is  l)om — 
Find  i^M'ateful  rest  in  their  i^rim   f.istnesses. 
Good  sheUered  folk,  they  joy  to  live  and  die 
Tn  staid  familiar  haimts  where  life  lH\i;an  ; 
No  rampant  hope  to  break  dame  Nature's  bondr., 
Conrtint;*  no  kinships  grainier  than  their  own. 
('"ravini:^  no  i;ift  from  out  tliis  upper  world. 
They  never  rise  to  _i;reet   the  morm'ui;-  sun. 
Nor  wonderini;-  ask  ov  ilreani  of  starry  vaidt — 
Their  stars  content  in  life's  allotted  spheres. 
Ts   frettinj;-  pride  o{  hii;her  tyj^e  than  these? 
Or  black  ambition  mcMc  commendable? 
A  fish  at  home  is  peer  of  prince  or  king. 

On  stony  shores  above,  qfray  sands  move  up: 
Ron<;h    pebbles    roll    themsidves    to    ronnd    and 

smcH'ttb. 
Voov  sand-lleas  antl  brii^ht  wavelets  leap  response 
To  thud  of  asking'  voices  never  still; 


SfiA   DRII'T.  00 

And   nK'ks.  tii)liravcMl  by  siir^nn^-  l)illows,  cl'iiin 
The  liij^lur  levels.     All   things  Uhtc  aspire; 
Harsh  sand  ^nains  jjrondly  rise  in  stiffened  reeds, 
Their  suppler  ehildren,  ereepin^^  up   inshore, 
Grandchildren  urge  to  softer,  liner  blades. 


Inland,  pnr(>  restlessness  seeks  hurried  dianj^^e; 
Untimely  buds  burst,  rashly  into  llower. 
blowers  (|uiekly  rotnid  to  fruits,  as  ehildren  grow, 
And  trees,  tied   fast;  that,  always  nuirinuring, 
And    proudly    liflini;    high    llkir    new    erowned 

Iwads, 
Wave  envious  greeting  to  the  thoughlful  s-lars. 


NOTHING  RESTS. 

The  restless  birds  niii;:ratc 
Jiaeh  autunni  and  spring; 

1  he  meanest  grubs  emulate 
Butterlly's  wing. 

Plunging  headlong  below, 
Running  raees  all  day, 

The  mountain  rills  How, 
Away,  far  away! 


70  SEA  DRIFT, 

On  silver  lake's  edge, 
The  green  cresses  dance 

From  gay  growing  sedge, 
Sharp  little  eyes  glance. 


The  meadow  brooks  watch, 
And,  changing  their  wiles. 

Bright  lily  blooms  catch 
In  pictures  and  smiles. 


Fair  blossoms  hold  up 
In   smooth  velvet  hands, 

The  sweet  drinking  cup 
For  gauze-winged  bands. 


The  wind  rushes  by, 
The  field  daisies  sing, 

Busy  bees  haunt  the  sky, 
Gnats  live  on  the  wing. 


Great  sun  and  moon  rove. 
Clouds  wander  all  day; 

And  all  the  stars  move 
In  grand  roundelay. 


SEA  DRIFT,  n 

Down   here,   the   ocean   pulse   craves   rhythmic 

peace 
Year  after  year.     The  rocks  and  mountains  stand 
Deep  wrapped  in  monkish  cowls  and  dreamless 

sleep ; 
Grim  types  of  Patience  on  Time's  monuments ; 
Nor  grief-wan  smiles  light  up  these  changeless 

realms, 
Where  water,  firm  as  marble,  stands  upright 
In  solid  blackness,  fixed  in  midnight  watch. 

Frail,  tiny  shells,  small  shields  of  boneless  mites. 
The  old  sea's  treasures,  slowly  dropped  to  earth, 
And  all  untainted  by  the  blight  of  time, 
In  piled  up  peace  for  their  successors  wait. 
And  welcome  them  with  age-long  gratitude; 
Through  father  Adam,  in  his  early  bed. 
And  men  before  the  flood,  as  formless  dust. 
Ignore  the  coming  in  procession  full. 
Rank  after  rank  of  their  posterity. 
Here,  everything  that  dies,  or  but  endures. 
To  earthward  tends,  drops  softly  to  the  ooze 
Where  primal  old  Bathibius  reigns  and  sleeps 
In  windless,  waveless,  dark,  cold,  silent  world. 


7a  SEA  DRIFT, 


EVERYTHING  RESTS. 

Lap  of  waves  and  all  deep  breathing", 

Changeless  night 
Stills;  as  mothers  hush  the  grieving 

Child  of  light. 

Surface  tumults  thick  outwalling, 

Fathoms  deep, 
Silence  fallsi,  as  sunbeams,  falling, 

Fade  and  sleep. 

Stealthy  foes  in  utter  stillness 

Thrust  and  parry; 
Nothing  dares  with  crying  shrillness 

Silence  harry. 

Passive,  uneventful  leisure, 

Brooding  ease; 
Ocean  ground  floor,  rich  in  treasure, 

None  will  seize. 

In  thje  pathos  of  long  midnight, 

Life  a  calm, 
Flame  of  living  venturing  rush  light 

Breeds  alarm. 


SEA  DRIFT.  73 

Deep  sea  folds  its  wordless  blessing 

Round  its  sphinx; 
Wordless,  kneeling  awe  expressing 

All  she  thinks ! 


The  shaping  touch  of  Ocean's  water  world 
Moulds  forms  and  senses  fitted  to  itself. 
What's  best  or  worst  on  life's  enjoyment  scale? 
And  which  outweighs,  content  or  discontent? 
Millions  of  curious  forms  lie  sprawling  here 
In  peace,  like  baskers  in  the  sunshine's  glow; 
And  battles  rage  as  hotly  in  dumb  show 
As  with  the  roar  of  musketry  above — 
For  simpler,  who  shall  say  for  baser  ends? 
Are  these  malign,  like  higher  hate  and  greed? 
The  viler  traits  may  be  evolved  with  loss ! 

Nor  have  we  fathomed  all  of  deep  sea  life 
Where  darkness  wraps  its  mysteries 
More  close  than  light  beyond  our  farthest  ken; 
Who  dares  a  limit  draw  in  face  of  truths 
The  wisest  call  insoluble;  when,  lo! 
In  twinkling  of  an  eye,  they  stand  revealed. 

Does  compensation  find  its  'customed  place 
In  cold  sea -Hades?    Can  warm  brooding  thought 


74  SEA  DRIFT. 

Here  incubate  long  waiting  mysteries? 

An  eye  whose  light  is  in  itself,  unfolds 

A  world  of  romance  and  sublimest  truth! 

Can  Ether — bond  between  the  mighty  worlds- — 

In  all  the  tenuous  fullness  of  vast  space, 

Have  vivid   feeling?  living  occupant? 

If  not,  what  dreary  wastes  shall  profit  give 

To  universe  of  friendly  helpfulness ! 

Then  do  thy  spaces,  Ocean,  throb  with  hope? 

And  pleasant  cheerfulness?  and  perfect  trust? 

And  water  world  a  world  of  blessedness? 


And  may  the  lowly  children  of  the  deep, 
'Mid  the  long  quietude  of  their  abode, 
By  slow  progression  rise  to  high  estate. 
Unhindered;  helped  by  their  environment? 
Reflection  is  most  blessed  in  stillest  peace. 
And  sleep's  bright  dreams  oft  kindle  waking  joys. 


IS  THERE  A  BEST? 

The  strenuous  life  of  thought 
With  high  endeavor  wrought; 
The  vision  far  and  clear, 
The  insight  of  the  seer, 


SEA  DRIFT.  75 

Rich  joys  of  noble  hue, 
Oncoming  fresh  and  new, 
Are  very,  very  beautiful. 

But  peaceful,  pleasant  joy, 
Content  with  sweet  employ; 
Calm  good  in  ample  store, 
Striving  for  nothing  more ; 
Feelings  filled  up  to  brim 
With  homely  song  and  hymn, 
These  too  are  fine  and  dutiful. 


A  lingering  savagery  appeals  to  war. 
Transplanting  grievous  pandemonium 
With  all  its  wounding,  horrid  cruelties 
When  it  would  stir  a  torpid  commonwealth. 
Or  find  an  outlet  for  sharp  discontent. 
Or  satisfy  the  futile  restlessness 
That  finds  no  better  aim.     Insensate  greed 
Will  conquer  provinces.     But  Nature  spreads 
Above,  below,  through  all  her  borders  wide, 
A  table  full  enough  to  meet  all  needs 
Supplying  only  wholesome  appetites. 
Down  here,  variety  is  infinite, 
And  sentient  life  need  find  no  dreary  reali^i 
In  this  her  nursery  for  infant  sleep 
And  muscle-building  new  activities. 


76  SEA  DRIFT. 

And  protean  Ocean,   since  thou'rt  sovereign 

king, 
Can  mirth  and  jests  and  merry  sport  find  place 
In  thy  Plutonic  realm?     Dame  Nature  jokes 
In  our  white  world ;    she  clothes  her  purest  glee 
In  forms  grotesque  and  faces  ludicrous. 
The  laugh-provoking,  craziest  things  proclaim 
A  fellow  feeling  warms  her  heart  and  ours. 
Queerest  thoughts  get  stereotyped  in  flesh  and 

plant 
With  lavish  hand.     Life  gives  to  thee  odd  fish; 
As  half  afraid  to  face  the  telltale  light 
With  her  most  humorous  bizarre  conceits. 

Is  deep  sea  moral  gravity  too  dense 
For  wholesome  fun  and  genuine  merriment? 
Or  dost  exceed  our  daylight  joviality, 
And  compensate  thy  children  of  the  night, 
Making  at  times  blank  darkness  jubilant? 

More  things  invade  thy  anchored  water  world 
Than  dreamed  of  yet  in  our  philosophies; 
Than  found  out  yet  by  all  our  sciences. 
The  plants  all  germinate  in  darkened  soil ; 
Yet  many  reach  more  near  to  Heaven  than  man 

himself. 
The  noblest  human  forms,  once  potter's  clay. 


SEA  DRIFT.  77 

Now  tread  their  own  descendants  'neath    their 

feet. 
All  infant  lives  awake  from  dreamless  sleep. 

In  thy  hushed  corridors  are  dying  moans 
The  germs  of  speech   in   growth?    May  sound 

wake  up 
In  clean-washed,  purer  voice,  to  liquid  sweetness 
We  have  never  heard? 

There  are    strange  vales 
Long  fathoms  deeper  than  our  sunshine  falls — 
The  cheerful  day  barred  out  by  moveless  black — 
Vales  light  with  glory,  swift  and  wandering. 
Soft   lightnings    flash,   or   smile    with    lambent 

tiames ; 
For  curious  light-producers,  richly  dowered, 
Envied  by  gods  and  men,  can  send  clear  beams 
Across  the  night  and  make  her  startled  shades 
Shrink  timidly,  affrighted  and  subdued; 
And  strange  sea  creatures,  dazed,  look  face  to 

face 
In  quick  and  awed  surprise  of  novelty. 


78  SEA  DRIFT, 


LIGHT. 


To  all  who  live  where  shadows  fall 
Light's  clear  handwriting  on  the  wall 

Shines  fitfully; 
But  day  will  surely  triumph  yet, 
And  over  all  her  beacon  set, 

For  land  and  sea. 

The  eye  of  day,  the  eye  of  soul, 
Pure  light  illumes  in  growing  whole, 

And  bids  us  look; 
The  crumpled  leaf  she  opens  wide, 
The  crimson  deed  she  will  not  hide. 

Nor  close  life's  book. 

She  makes  the  darkness  clearly  seen ; 
Then  slays  it,  as  it  had  not  been. 

And  takes  its  place; 
For  all  things  shines  a  smiling  sun, 
Teaching  the  blindest  where  to  run, 

What  wrongs  to  face. 


Uncalendared  are  all  mysterious  ways. 
Thy   deep  sea   wards  are   queerly  dowered   in 
traits 


SEA  DRIFT.  79 

No  mortal  would  have  dared  to  thiink  the  best, 
But  somehow  gained  by  odd  capriciousness, 
To  children  handed  down  not  much  improved ; 
As  ocean  owned  a  vast  ''Pandora's  box" 
And  caught  at  marvels  as  they  made  escape. 
Mankind,  not  less  than  they,  accept  of  legacies ; 
But  gain  unique  surpassing  benefits 
Rising  like  mountains  over  lowly  hills; 
But  here  the  generations  drift  unchanged, 
Their  Adams  portraiits  of  their  younger  sons. 


DEEP  SEA  RESIGNATION. 

Then  are  they  so  contented? 

The  tribes  of  clawing  idlers, 
Have  none  of  them  resented 

That  they  are  only  sidlers? 

The  poor  things  forced  to  scuttle 
Or  be  themselves  digested; 

May  not  they  envy  Cuttle 
With  inky  gifts  invested  ? 

Rich  Shellfish  in  their  houses 
May  rouse  a  naked  rancor. 

Or  slugs,  without  good  blouses, 

For  horns  and  great  swords  hanker. 


80  SEA  DRIFT. 

When  fatal  war  i«  raging, 

The  strong  ones  punching,  slamming; 
The  invalids  and  aging 

May  take  it  out  in  cramming. 

Wrigglers  might  hate  the  sw'immers, 
Great  whales  the  shrimps  deride ; 

Tbe  dark  fish  covet  glimmers, 
And  none  quite  satisfied. 

Is  there  a  place  so  quiet 

It  may  not  foster  vices  ? 
Is  there  a  state  where  diet 

For  every  want  suffices? 


Ocean,  canst  add  one  word  in  clemency 
And  satisfy  our  ever  curious  doubts? 
Thy  pearls  of  thought  to  us  were  morning  stars. 

In  these  low  plains  of  secrecy  and  night, 
Where  curtained  stillness  hangs  its  deepest  folds, 
The  script  of  dark  sea  lore  unread,  unguessed, 
Has  feeling  numb  and  sluggish  grown — unused  ? 
Not  made  to  think  like  brain,  nor  feel  like  heart. 
Our  lowly  feet  are  prone  to  numl)ing  sleep ; 
But  wake  with  prickings  we  are  forced  to  bear. 


SEA  DRIFT.  81 

Dost  thou  thiits  share  the  smother  of  dark  caves? 
Can  stirless,  utter  rest  brood  deepest  joy, 
As  gleam  of  sympathy  in  stoHd  face 
Can  waken  it  to  bright  and  winning  charm? 

Say  this — canst  thiou?  "Held  near  to  heart  of 
Earth 
Whose  primal  warmth  glows  yet  with  fervid  heat, 
The  deepest  throbs  of  sympathetic  life 
And  blessedness  refresh  my  peaceful  soul ; 
More  rich  in  wealth  of  joy  than  daylight  knows, 
More  deep  in  reverent,  fervent  sympathies." 

Night  oft  is  mother  of  high  thoughts  and  plans, 
Kindling  one's  working  sense  to  ecstasies, 
To  feelings  of  triumphant  strong  resolve ; 
Linking  a  thousand  thoughts  by  bands  of  light, 
Does  midnight  vigil  quicken  so  thy  life. 
And   stillness  wake  in   finest  reveries? 
Does  high  reflection  fill  thy  night  with  stars 
More  charming  than  our  clearest  sky  can  boast? 
Earth's  treasures  give  but  few  rewards  like  these. 

Thou  answerest  not.  Nor  mother  Nature  will — 
Who  wraps  her  slightest  mysteries  in  veils — 
Unless  we  grow  more  wise  interpreters^. 
Her  pointing  finger  bids  us  learn  to  read 
All   truth  in  things. 


82  SEA  DRIFT, 

Our  lids  of  visions  closed, 
And  ears  too  dull  to  catch  thy  vibrant  speech, 
Perhaps  in  fullness  of  beatitude — 
Unworthy  thy  shoe  latchets  to  unloose — 
Such  waiting^  secrets  breathe  with  unsealed  lips. 
The  noblest  flowers  unfold  their  brilliant  leaves 
More  leisurely  than  thronging  multitudes ; 
And  rarest  jewels  capture  human  love, 
And  spur  the  heart  to  careful,  longer  search. 
Where  buried  treasures  lie  in  kingly  state. 
Keep  thy  counsel,  Ocean.   "God's  in  His  Heaven," 
And  earth  and  deepest  sea ;  all's  well  with  thee ! 


SEA  DRIFT.  83 


VI. 

DREAMS. 

The  wildest  prank,  some  past  must  thank, 
In  weakest  things,  some  strength  has  rank, 
And  Truth  in  Falsehood  holds  her  place. 
Looks  bravely  out  through  his  false  face; 
Weak  Falsehood  dies  when  Truth  withdraws, 
Too  poor  to  live  alone,  his  cause ! 

Dreams,  shadows  or  reflections  are 
Of  saner  happenings,  near  or  far — 
Reflections  fair,  beauty  endowed. 
The  shadows  swathed  in  lowering  cloud ; 
Sleep-Demon,  by  his  wondrous  arts 
The  good  or  bad,  relentless,  starts. 

Grim  shadow-dreams,  most  merciless, 

Pierce  cruelly  with  false  distress, 

Steal  one's  poor  wits  with  fiendish  glee, 

And  hypnotize  his  sanity — 

The  good  child's  bread  and  milk  renew 

To  banish  this  inhuman  crew ! 


84  SEA  DRIFT. 

But  dreams  llnal  woo  us  coaxini:;-ly, 
Can  soothe  or  spur  adorably ; 
As  swcot  as  morninp;'  breath  of  flowers, 
Enforced  by  cooHng  l)ath  of  showers; 
Stran<;e  colors  rare  and   richly   vvroU|[^lU, 
And  hic^her,  softer  i^lory  taui^^ht. 


As  rocks  that  rise  in  adamant, 

In  water's  wavering  grace  enchant; 

Or  interweaving  mystic  zone 

By  roseate  clouds  on  lakelet  thrown 

Tn  eddyings  of  bright  content — 

The  commonplace  in  banishment. 

Deep  in  the  heart  of  fine  ideal, 
dingers  aiul  hides  the  cruder  real ; 
They  grow  twin  born,  like  Siam's  twins 
Inseparable.     When  ideal  wins. 
The  real  unfolds  in  clearer  light ; 
And  two  are  wed  in  open  sight. 


Ocean,  T  saw  or  seemed  to  see,  far  down 
Through  crystal  paths  of  telescopic  reach, 
(Whim's  telescope,  improved;    made  submarine, 
Excels  all  occult  crystals  of  the  seers,) 
A  grotto  higih  and  broadly  overarched 
And  water  filled  from  base  to  lofty  roof; 


SEA   DRIFT.  85 

Its  rocky  sides  nptovvcrini:;-  gnivc  and  ^rim, 
Half  visil)lc  and  vague.     Small,  fitful  lights 
Meandered  round,  then  faded  like  past  dreams; 
And    lost,   the   darkness   grew   condensed,   con- 
gealed. 
The  cave  in  awful  shadowed  stillness  lay, 
Water  and   rocks,   massive  alike,  and   dead  as 
death. 

Then,  slowly  swimming  in,  there  came  a  fleet 
Of  strange   fantastic  things;  long  demijohns 
With  su])ple  curves  and  fishes'  fins  and  tails, 
Sem'i-transparencies,  comic,  uncouth, 
Faintly  aglow  in  soft  and  bluish  tints. 
Each  bore  ui)on  its  back  what  seemed  a  lamp, 
Pouch  shaped,  with  twisted  ])arrol-beak — alive. 
Shifted  to  niches  of  the  fretted  rock, 
These  flamed  and  ])aled  by  turns,  Hashing  clear 

light 
Which  kindled  all  the  lately  darkened  space 
With  glow  of  changing  ojjal  fitfuhicss. 

Wise  bower  birds  gather  shining  gauds  to  deck 
The  green  approaches  to  thc'ir  thicket  homes; 
Tlie  crows  and  blackbirds  steal  our  shining  toys; 
These   sea   imps   brought   this   bright   and   jolly 

crew, 
(Their  merriest,  who  seemed  to  grin  in  light), 


86  Sn.^  DRIFT. 

To  liven  11])  a  p^rand  festivity; 

And    luindrcds   scattered   gleams,  as  clouds  the 

rain. 
The  uncouth   hearers   rested,  overcome 
With  i)leasnre  more  than   toil.     Their  tails  and 

fins, 
Like  silver  fans,  waved  slowly  up  and  down 
The  cool  hlack  waters,  which,  as  softly  stirred, 
Caup^ht  sparkles  of  the  lamps  and  flamed  again. 


The  love  of  heauty,  of  fine  ornaments. 
Innate,  as  love  of  flavors  and  good  food — 
To  us  improved,  no  doubt,  and  much  refined — 
Contents  these  lowly  dwellers  of  the  sea. 
With  all  the  zest  of  outcome  yet  to  be, 
Do  these  like  change  as  Nimrods  crave  the  hunt, 
Grand  scampcrings.  and  hazard  just  ahead, 
Oiiwooing,  like  another  Tantalus, 
Who  craves  and  seeks,  yet  never  finds  supply? 


Along  our  upper  shores,  revolving  lights 
Which  signal  dangers  to  the  ships  at  sea, 
Cheer  night-robed  waves  v^rith  fitful  blossoming, 
With  like  unequal  glow,  here  wax  and  wane, 
Now  flame,  now  shade,  with  breathing  soft  effect ; 
As  light  itself  enjoyed  the  pleasing  change. 


SEA  DRIFT.  87 

The  grotto,  smilinp^  in  its  silver  gray, 
Of  softened  sliadow ;  every  now  and  then 
Deepened  by  bhiisli  green  and  purple  shades. 
The  pouehlike  tiny  lamps,  luinclied  nj)  like  toads, 
Pimpled  with  gleaming  scales,  ugly  and  bright, 
Poured  out  cool   flames  like  laughter,   in  quick 

jets, 
Odd  little  spirts  of  gleeful,  scattered  smiles. 
And  ocean  pulses  seemed  to  throb  in  time ; 
The  dee])  ])at(.'mal  heart  alight  with  joy, 
And  answering  smile  with  smile — as  fathers  do. 

The  coming  in  of  favored  guests  began, 
Things  nondescript,  of  every  form  and  size, 
Some,  moving  leisurely,  with  confidence, 
But  others  hurrying  on  in  gasping  haste. 
Panting — in  mortal  fright  at  fierce  pursuit ; 
As  when,  a  hawk  wide  circling  in  the  skies, 
Young  chickens  flee  to  safe  maternal  wings. 

The  rocky  fissures  l)U(lded  with  small  eyes 
Which     peered,     and,     steel-sharp,     flashed     in 

rivalry ; 
Sometimes  of  gems  embossed  on  stone,  shining 
In  size  and  shape  and  li(juid  brilliancy, 
As  precious  gems  can  never  shine  elsewhere; 
And  rivalry  with  answering,  peering  eyes, 
Crown  1)ril!ia!it  in  this  most  unwonted  sheen. 


88  SEA  DRIFT. 

Without  the  grotto,  held  as  by  command, 
Arriving"  hosts,  of  strange  and  nameless  breeds — 
Their  hasty  voyages  brought  to  sudden  halt — 
Lay  resting  round  about,  tier  over  tier, 
By  the  sustaining  waters  firm  upheld, 
And  prone  to  sleep.     The  tiger  and  the  Ian:'  . 
Resting  in  peace  together,  seemed  content. 
So  caravans  for  cities  walled  and  strong, 
Where  heavy  gates  are  locked  as  night  draws  on, 
Encamp  in  tents,  to  wait  the  coming  dawn 
When  they  may  enter,  prized  and  welcome  guests. 
What  mandate  held  these  would-be  revelers  ? 
Por  here  were  neithier  locks  nor  jealous  gates, 
Nor  posted  sentinel  to  charge  them  halt. 
With  threat  of  prison,  chains,  or  legal  death. 

Why  linger  they  in  open  grotto's  court? 
Some   strong   unwritten    laws   all    dumb   things 

keep 
They  might  not,  if  they  could,  reveal  to  us ; 
Fishes,  birds,    bees,  strange    occult    knowledge 

prove 
By  social  gifts  outranking  wisest  man — 
Gained  then  through  senses  more  evolved  than 

ours. 
We,  too,   pause,  dcep-breath'd,  instinctively, 
Before  the  weighty  claims  upon  ourselves; 
Can  we  be  heirs  of  this  far  ancestry? 


SEA  DRIFT.  80 

Within  the  grotto,  all  in  quiet  placed, 
A  lingering  twilight  falls  new  hom  and  sweet; 
The  lively  things  drop  off  in  slumberous  rest, 
Worn  out  by  agitations,  toil  and  hope. 


HUSH. 

Tiny  lamps  more  softly  burn, 
Gentler  breathing  craves  its  turn ! 
Fishes,  fold  your  prickly  fins  !— 
Ancient  peace  and  stillness  wins; 
Creatures,  think  no  more  of  toil ! 
Water-snakes,  take  restful  coil! 
Efts  and  bugs,  packed  side  by  side, 
In  the  rocky  crannies  hide! 
All  the  shells,  your  house  doors  close ! 
No  stars  tripping  round  on  toes! 
No  small  earwig  swiftly  glide! 
Not  a  beetle  skate  or  slide ! 
Long-legged  crabs,  lie  still  and  sleep ! 
Scarlet  shrimps,  no  moving  keep! 
Cuttles,  talons  long  and  fierce, 
Dream  not  strangled  foe  to  pierce! 
Wiser  sea  folk,  high  In  state. 
Moveless,  keep  your  watch  and  wait. 


90  SEA  DRIFT, 

Strange  phantom  shapes  come  glicHng  in 
As  througli  the  grotto's  thick,  unbroken  walls. 
All  colorless  as  stainless  waters  are; 
So  clear,  one  through  another  shows  as  plain 
As  seen  through  water  only.     Thin  their  forms; 
Their  features  dim  and  barely  traceable — 
All  moving  on  and  taking  attitudes, 
Some  comical,  and  solemn  some  as  prayer, 
And  each  intent  upon  his  own  device, 
As  they  were  living,  breathing,  feeding  things! 
Shapes  surely  more  bizarre  than  Father  Time 
In  all  his  days  has  calmly  looked  upon. 

The  limpid,  pale,  uncanny  things  were  there; 
They  floated  free,  wagged  phantom  shapes,  and 

swayed 
In  recognition,  or  made  feints  of  war 
When  friend  or  foe  was  met  in  husili  more  deep 
And  awesome  than  the  starless  midnight  sky. 
Some  even  leaped  and   dived;  as  substanceless 
As  idle  revcry  dreaming  wraiths  of  dreams ; 
Like  water  poured  tlirough  wnter,  falling  free 
Within  the  midst,  keeping  its  own  old  look; 
Which  will  not  freely  mix  and  lose  itself. 

These  fragile  shades  all    played    their    little 
parts, 
And  died  again  to  Ocean's  water  world 


SEA  DRIl'T.  91 

As  they  had  never  been.     Thou  gavest  not 
One  trace  of  knorwledge  they  had  come  or  gone, 
Nor  one  of  all  the  haunted  sleepers  woke. 

Not  shadows  they.       The  scene  was  shadow 
wrapiK'd 
To  equal  depth.     Nor  were  they  idle  (h-canis 
That  aimless  come  to  baffle  vacant  minds. 
They  seemed  to  teach  some  lesson  hard  to  read ; 
Like  human  breath,  still-born  in  frosty  air, 
Then  in  a  moment  lost,  till  not  a  film  remains. 
How  like  a  myriad,  myriad  other  thinj^s, 
Hid  in  the  womb  of  Time,  they  dro])  from  sight ! 

Were  they  last  remnants  of  the  early  yeast 
Of  rising  life:    firstlings  of  trial  skill 
Never  more  made,  but  vaguely,  faintly  s!<atclied. 
Trials  of  first  uncertain  venturing? 
The  haunting  shades  of  possibilities 
That  might  be  flesh,  but  never  will — nor  were? 
Or  are  they  wandering  ghosts  of  old-time  things 
Who  wronged   thy   caverned   deeps   when   thou 

wert  young, 
That  breathed,  and   grew,  and   lived,  and  died 

long  since? 
Or  in  their  queer  uncouthness  will  they  live 
In  coming  time,  and  gather  solid  forms? 
And  to  their  children  give  inheritance 


92  SEA  DRIFT. 

On  higher  Hnes,  with  generous  strong  advance — 
First  shreds  of  mysteries,  awaiting  flesh, 
As  these  that  sleep  wait  their  festivities? 
Or  can  thy  waters  lend  themselves  to  shape 
The  dreams  these  sleepers  urge  to  mimic  hirth, 
In  moving  forms  of  poor  and  vagrant  thoughts? 
Or  did  the  primal  untaught  elements 
At  first  do  all  they  could  creating  these — 
First  shadows  of  a  destined  coming  life? 


RESPONSE. 

Sometimes    an    old    clock's    weary,    droning 
"Tick!   tack!'' 
Can  steal  one's  thought,  and  send  it  echoed  back 
In    parrot    monotone :    "Again !    again !" 
Until  the  crazy  words  are  fretful  pain, 

Or  bolder  ringing  bell,  with  its  "Ding!    dong!" 
Can  twist  one's  feelings  into  mocking  song. 
And  draw  them  large,  and  scatter  everywhere, 
Until  your  heart  itself  seems  in  the  air: 

So,  questioning  awoke  some  answering  voice — 
Within,  without,  who  knows  ?    Nor  had  I  choice ; 
This  silver  thread  of  sound  no  sense  could  shock ; 
Like  water  dripping  clear  from  rock  to  rock. 


SEA  DRIFT.  93 

Drop !  drop !  drop !  in  pleasant  shadowed  glen, 
Shut  out  in  peace  from  all  the  toils  of  men. 
The  low  sound  pressed,  and  echoing,  slowly  died 
As  hanging  sea-mists  into  clear  sky  glide. 

THE  ANSWER. 

We  are  but  the  unfilled  wishes 
Of  too  early  dying  fishes. 
Bodies    perish,    wishes,    living, 
Strength  to  lasting  purpose  giving, 
Sleep  as  dead,  near  opening  portals 
To  the  larger  joys  of  mortals. 
Craving  once-felt  wealth  of  breathing, 
All  the  zests  of  life  en  wreathing. 

We  are  children  of  the  twilighi:, 
Lost,  if  held  in  changeless  midnight. 
Famished  hope,  in  chilly  starkness 
In  the  wide  sea's  stubborn  darkness. 
Age  on  ages  we  may  slumber — 
None  the  flying  ages  number — 
Waiting,  destined  fresh  awaking. 
From  the  long  naps  we  are  taking. 

But  when  mysteries  are  thickening, 
We,  too,  feel  unwonted  quickening; 
And  the  hope  of  transient  living, 
Ancient  push  to  action  giving, 


94  SEA  DRIFT. 

We  arouse — if  twilight  blesses — 
Brief  the  hour  when  rash  light  presses — 
Half  waked  souls  in  tranquil  waiting 
For  our  full-born  reinstating. 

Dying  never,  nor  may  sever 
From  our  forms — close  wed  forever — 
We  must  wait  till  quickening  motion 
Stirs  anew  in  twilight  ocean. 
All  deap  sea's  athrob  with  feeling. 
And  in  supplication  kneeling, 
Dumbly  asks  the  great  All-giving 
Quick  advance  to  higher  living. 


SEA  DRIFT.  95 


VII. 

ITie  sleeping  grotto  woke  anew  to  life, 
The  little  peering  eyes  grew  large  with  sight, 
The  lights  flamed  out  afresh,  and  seemed  to  say 
In  streams  of  ecstasy :   *'The  time  has  come !" 
Outwaiting    guests    swarmed    in,    in    welcome 

shoals. 
Some  clung  against  the  walls,  queer  arabesques. 
And  with  half-sleepy  nods  hung  there. 
Live    ornaments    of    branched    and    spreading 

growth ; 
And  some  hung  down  in   streamers,   long  and 

grand, 
From  height  of  vaulted  roof,  as  rooted  there ; 
And  swaying  to  and  fro,  as  breezes  stir 
The  long-armed  branches  of  our  greenwood  trees. 
The  priceless   gems,  too,   seemed  to  wake  and 

flash, 
Outstanding  from  the  brown  plebeian  rock. 

Strange  creatures  of  all  forms  and  sizes  played 
As  frolicsome  as  early  lambs  in  spring, 
Till  all  the  waters  swarmed  with  moving  life. 
The  barren  floor  grew  richly  carpeted 


96  SEA  DRIFT. 

By  patterned  shapes,  in  colors  deep  and  rare, 
That  moved  and  shone;    each  answermg  change 

with  change. 
One   might   have   thought   he   stood   gazing   far 

down 
From  mountain  height  on  richest  autumn  scene. 
Whose     gold      and      crimson      foliage — Flora's 

realm — 
Was  swaying  hlithely  to  the  piping  winds. 

When  high  tides  ebb  from  land-locked  surface 

pools ; 
And    sunbeams,    glancing,    play    with    stranded 

waves 
That  shimmer  and  laugh  back  bewitchingly ; 
Some  few,  small,  Vvdiirling,  waving,  hiding  things. 
Sprinkle  the  tiny  bays  and  ocean  pools, 
To  charm  our  hearts.     The  gray-tanned,  rocky 

sides 
O'er-clustered  with-  the  helpless  weakling  shells 
That  cling,  and,  hopeful,  wait  returning  tides — 
All  these  small  creatures  adding  charm  of  life. 

Th'is  grotto  floor  grows  dense  with  swarming 

lives ; 
Some  fleet  of  foot.       Circles  and  stars  change 

place. 
Bright  figures  take  new  forms  with  brilliant  easie. 


SEA  DRIFT.  97 

There,  shells,  magnificent  in  coloring, 
Walk  round  in  grandeur  at  a  lively  pace ; 
Long,  gliding  lines,  like  jewels  threaded,  move, 
Swift  weaving  in  and  out  through  all  the  mass; 
They  stir  the  sluggards  to  a  livelier  change. 
Some  tiny  faces,  set  on  spindle  stems, 
With  odd  grimaces  waver  to  and  fro. 
And  hold  their  base;  wee  effigies  of  men, 
With  features  wrought  in  wanton  merriment — 
Poor  wriggling  worms  on  end ;  but  picturesque, 
Their  jeweled  setting  flashing  back  the  light. 

Much  frolic  waits  until  the  outer  world, 
Barred  out,  can  rest  in  old,  unchanging  ways. 

A  living,  shining  cloud  sails  up  en  masse 
And  blocks  the  grotto's  mouth — a  midge-made 

door, 
Like  liquid  gold  in  flow,  softly  toned  down 
To  mellowness  of  lingering,   sunset   rose. 

So  all  is  ready  now  for  festival. 
The  wandering  lights  start  up  more  brilliantly, 
The  little  hunchback  lamps  breathe  quick  in  flame, 
The  demijohns  grow  fairly  luminous. 
And  everything  reflects  more  shine  and  sheen, 
Till  gaping  creatures  close  their  eyes  and  gasp — 
Unwonted  to  the  sudden  blinding  light. 


98  SEA  DRIFT. 

Tall  pillars,  here  and  there,  unseen  till  now, 
Loom  startlingly,  enameled  bright  with  flame, 
And  seem  to  take  a  forward  step — surprised. 

A  brisk  kaleidoscopic  dancing  whirls 
Through  all  the  startled  cave  from  top  to  base, 
As  driven  by  a  single  turning  screw 
To  moving  geometric  harmony. 
Things,  swimming,  diving,  skating  on. 
In  interweaving  mazes,  swift  or  slow — 
The  curious  pattern  never  twice  the  same — 
Each  creature  follows  out  its  own  device. 
Claw-armed    and    bunched-up    swimmers,    sidle 

round 
As  smoke  wreaths  twist  and  turn  in  limpid  air; 
Odd  fish,  ablaze  with  fins,  take  flying  vaults; 
Slim,    sinuous,  darting    things,    how    smoothly 

glide ; 
Some  roll  in  wheels  among  the  swimming  hosts ; 
Dots  float  and  leap,  aglow  like  silver  beads. 
If  unmeant  contacts  hap,  they  slide  apart 
And  swiftly  glance  aside  without  a  pause; 
The  moving  whole  as  orderly  and  smooth 
As  fitted  parts  of  one  gay  pantomime. 

Is  deep  sea  life  a  jest  and  parody 
Of  higher,  many-sided  social  life? 
At  this  rare  fete  grow  marvels  strangely  dark, 


SEA  DRIFT.  99 

To  chill  the  soul,  if  any  dare  observe 
The  passing  shames  and  crimes  of  ocean  life, 
Born  out  of  time  in  midst  of  joyous  play. 
The  charming  love  of  beautiful  and  fine, 
Has  it  no  call  to  veil  a  darker  side? 


A  slow  approaching  music  richly  swells 
in  sweet,  enchanting,  muffled  cadences. 
Dreamy  and  low,  waking  nor  sleeping  seems ; 
But  strangely  musical  soft  throbs  of  sound. 
Has  craze  of  motion  waked  response  afar 
In  tones  like  distant  chant  of  choristers  ? 
Can  Ocean's  tidal  voice,  in  swing  above. 
Send  floating  echoes  down,  mellowed  and  sweet, 
To  punctuate  the  long  mionotony  ? 
Can  cheerful  sounds  of  earth,  clamors  of  men. 
Or  chimes  of  bells — sifted  and  washed  in  transit 
To  long-drawn  sweetness — stir  this  silent  world? 

To  this  far  music,  light  seems  beating  time, 
The  shining  little  pendulums  of  flame 
A  living  pulse,  throbbing  from  more  to  less, 
Waxing  and  waning,  joyously ; 
And  every  creature  slower,  kindlier  moves. 
Responding  in  a  new  and  cheerful  march; 
All  motion  rises,  falls,  as  some  deep  thought 
Finds  lost  expression  in  these  harmonies ! 

^LcfC. 


100  SEA  DRIFT. 

And  in  the  very  midst  of  this  sweet  peace 
And  comity,  a  startHng  crisis  comes; 
Strong  players,  weary  with  unwonted  tasks. 
The  helpless,  weak  and  tender  smaller  fry 
Snap  up  in  hungry  haste  with  no  least  pause 
Of  movement ;  and  none  even  looks  reproach ! 
No  weakest  swimmer  halts,  made  dead  with  fear. 
On,  on,  the  pageant  moves,  eager,  unchecked ; 
The  chanting  nearer,  louder,  faster  grows ; 
And  brighter  grows  the  glare  of  radiance — 
The  novel  viands  of  this  reckless  feast 
As  temptingly  abundant,  fresh  and  free 
As  berries  purloined  from  a  fruitful  bush; 
And  none  are  missed,  and  no  one  seems  to  care 
Or  dream  of  cruelty,  or  hurt,  or  wrong. 
In  ancient  Rome  sweet  music  lived  in  peace 
With  hard  barbarity  and  sodden  crime. 


Conduct  yet  more  obscure  is  hard  to  read. 
Some  long-legged  skaters  stretch  their  moving 

arms. 
And  dangling,  stroke  their  kin — in  love  or  hate 
One  cannot  guess ;  but  little  flashes  glow 
In  quick  and  answering  flame  at  every  touch 
Till  stroked  and  stroker  draw  apart. 
Lithe,  agile  creatures,  most  unlike  in  form, 
Now  balance  face  to  face  as  dancers  do. 


SEA  DRIFT.  101 

Squaring  their  fluttering  fins  or  spindling  arms — 
In  threat  and  challenge,  or  in  peace  untold. 

Like  learned  folk  of  vastly  higher  schools, 
Are  these  queer  sprawling  tribes  dazed?  drunk 

with  light 
So  poor  'twould  fade  like  moonshine  in  clear  day? 
On  higher  planes  could  deeds  so  dastardly 
Be  made  to  simulate  benignity  ? 

Outside  the  cave,  hang  starers,  crude  in  form, 
Great  images  rough  moulded  in  coarse  clay. 
Each  trying  patiently  to  peep  beyond 
The  midge-made  screen,  atoss  with  surging  gnats 
Swarming  like  bees.     The  poor  relations  sway 
To  sights  and  sounds  within,  half  enviously; 
Yet  share  with  zest,  in  tame  humility. 
Ambition  grows  by  what  it  feeds  on  most ; 
These  must  have  scanty  diet,  poor  and  coarse. 
Through  opening  rifts  the  restless  midges  make 
In  dancing  change,  some  gleams  of  light  outflash 
Like  shooting  stars  athwart  the  outer  dark; 
The  starers  cringe  or  flee  to  blacker  deeps. 

Not  far  away,  at  foot  of  sloping  hill. 
There   lives   and  thrives  the   loveliest,   daintiest 

race. 
Sea  princesses,  of  Flora's  realm — well  born. 


102  SEA  DRIFT, 

Slim  sylvan  dryads,  clad  in  palest  green 
And  ocean  lace.     Tall,  straight  and  fine, 
Each  wed  in  birth  and  death  to  one  slight  reed, 
They  calmly  live  their  sacred  vestal  lives 
In  high  serenity  and  wise  content. — 
Exclusive  dames,  wr-apped  deep  in  quietness, 
Whatever  tumults  rage  or  changes  hap. 
The  grotto's  gala  day,  alight  so  near, 
And  hungry  monsters  roaming  everywhere. 
These  slim  sea  ladies  take  their  naps  at  ease- 
Each  leaning  on  her  own  half-bended  rush. 


VARIETIES. 

In  sea,  on  land,  all  things  that  live, 

Fit  well  their  place; 
For  Nature  knows  just  what  to  give 

Each   new   queer   race. 
She  paints  her  flowers  and  sunsets  bright, 

Her  tree  trunks  gray; 
She  lets  her  wolves  and  lions  fight, 

An.d  young  lambs  play. 
Her  butterflies  have  velvet  wings, 

Fish,  spiney  fins ; 
But  compensation  works  with  springs; 

It's  life  that  wins! 


SEA  DRIFT.  103 

This  charming  world  would  look  as  dull 

As    tarnished    lead, 
Had  all  her  nurseries,  over  full. 

One  type  of  head; 
As  inelastic  Life,  as  dry 

Old  putty  is, 
If  fated  all  to  live  and  die 

Alike  in  phiz; 
Insipid  as  the  lees  of  wine, 

Tasteless  and  flat. 
If  every  purple-clustered  vine 

Must  feed  one  vat. 


A  wholesome  large  variety. 

No  one  defrauds ; 
Better  than  weak  satiety. 

Sharp  pricks  and  gauds; 
Sooner  than  endless  woolly  sheep. 

Two  kinds  of  fleece ; 
Nature  woul'd  hold  her  gifts  too  cheap 

Were  all  swans — geese. 
And  she  would  set  her  gauge  too  high, 

If  all  were  men ; 
From  grass,  to  trees  that  lift  the  sky, 

Be  ten  times  ten! 
To  seek,  to  find,  to  feel  content 

As  children  play; 


104  SEA  DRIFT. 

To  seek  a.Qain,  first  earnings  spent, 

Need  not  dismay ; 
For  when  the  seeking  higher  rises, 

Claims  better  food, 
New  sustenance  each  need  surprises. 

For  each  Jiis  good. 
There  is  no  limit  set  for  gain ; 

This  one  thing  done ; — 
Hunger  and  thirst  as  earth  for  rain  I 

Then  all  is  won. 


A  learned  teacher  from  our  sunny  world, 
A  venturous  savant,  who  would  fain  explore 
The  deep  sea  mysteries  with  open  eyes, 
Came  dropping  strangely,  slowly  from  above 
In  most  ingenious  air-filled  diving  car. 
Tt  rested  lightly  on  the  ocean's  floor 
Where  friendly  sea  folk  lay  in  'customed  place. 
His  wondering  earnest  eyes  scanned  eagerly 
All  living  creatures  there  in  evidence ; 
And  unknown  things  he  placed  in  yawning  net, 
And  fastened  deftly  to  his  helpful  car. 

The  grotto's  revelry  was  nearly  done. 
Tts  most  unusual  glow  just  out  of  ken; 
And  as  the  teacher  groped  with  diligence 
For  deeper  knowledge  he  so  nearly  won. 


S/i/1   DKII'T.  105 

The  cloud  of  midges   hiokc  .'ind   sc.'illcrcd    wide 

To  fold  tliciii  c.'ich  in  dai  kiiess — glad  to  rcsl. 

As  noiselessly  tlic  silcnl    frolickers, 

Sonic  clnij.M'iii;  two  and  I  wo  foi-  imiln.d  clicrr, 

IHoat  (jff  to  c:o(j1  tlicnisclvcs  in  open  seas; 

The    clustered    lamps,    towed    on    or    swimming 

free, 
Left  not  a  ray  within — as  light  itself  had  died. 


r)utsidc  the  grotto's  mouth  was  sKirnn'shing 
Which    might    have    given    eidightenment ;     hut 

failed 
Like    other    might-have-heens    not    hronght    to 

birth. 
Some  sca-vy^ags  saw  the  Teaehcr,  twiddlcrl  fins, 
As  saucy  hoys  th(;ir  fingers,  thtunh  on  nose; 
And  sidled  off  like  hrjys  in  nn'scliicf  caught. 
One   lie<:dlcss   swimmer,    will)    Ircincndons   jaws, 
I  lad  nearly  flealt  tlie  sage  a  hurtful  wound, 
r>ut  saw  in  time  and  wheeled  to  savc!  (hem  holh. 
IVlost  saw  him  nol,  no  mor<-  llian  llicy  w<r(-  seen; 
l>ut  hasting  shoal  of  lamhcnt  demijohns 
Ga/>ed  wonderingly,  in  sudden  shock  and  halt, 
On  this  (jueer  stranger  from  ihe  sunshine  world. 
The  savant  caught  a  softened  glimmering. 
Pale  molten  silver  flickering  in  the  dark; 
But  when  not  yet  defined,  it  faded  out 


106  SEA  DRIFT. 

In  lingering  grins,  like  famous  Cheshire  cat's, 
And  blackness  wrapped  the  silent  neig'hborhood. 


By  some  stray  clatter  made,  were  gently  waked 
The  virgin  group  of  sylvan  dryads  near; 
Each  startled,  beckoning  to  her  friends,  stood 

tall, 
Glancing    around    with    doubtful,    questioning 

looks, 
As    whispering  each,    "Beware,"   but    with   no 

sound. 
Amid  the  darkness  barely  visible. 
They  saw  the  foreign  wonder  looming  dim. 


One  daring  maiden  forward  bent,  and  swayed, 
Twisting  on  slender  stem,  and  wagged  her  head, 
Seeming  almost  to  beckon  his  approach. 
The  other  shyer  vestals  in  amaze 
Drew   back,    hiding   more    close     in    clustered 

groups. 
Much  doubting  of  this  unknown  wonderment; 
And  yet  with  busy  thoughts  and  questioning. 
I  seemed  to  hear  the  rustle  as  they  moved ; 
Or  was  it  echo  of  the  grotto  voice, 
A  last  low  lingering  ripple,  heard  again, 
An  echo  shaping  tones  of  liquid  speech? 


SEA  DRIFT,  107 


DEEP  SEA  THOUGHT. 

Is  he  a  dweller  in  the  sea, 

Who  comes  agaze  this  way? 
An  awful  monster,  hungrily 

In  search  of  dainty  prey? 

How  hard  he  stares — this  bugaboo! 

How  stealthily  he  moves! 
His  eye  burns  all  the  water  through; 

An  evil  thing  he  proves. 

He  surely  dropped  from  up  above 

Where  creatures  never  rest, 
Where  everything  must  change  and  shove, 

And  work — to  find  the  best. 

They  dredge  and  snare  our  poor  sea  folk. 

They  stab  with  shining  spears ; 
This  one  caught  dozens  ere  we  woke, 

Worse !    worse  than  all  our  fears ! 

How  vilely  move  their  houses,  too! 

Some  breathing  fire  and  smoke 
Go  rushing  swift  the  waters  through 

Just  pounding  stroke  on  stroke. 


108  SEA  DRIFT. 

Thank  goodness !  up  he  goes  at  last ; 

A  horrid,  horrid  thing! 
The  chance  to  battle  fierce  and  fast 

The  squibs  and  sharks  might  bring! 

What  dreadful  beings  live  up  there, 
In  that  white,  fearful  world, 

Where  life  is  always  change  and  care, 
And  things  down  here  are  hurled ! 

How  grateful  this  cool,  shaded  sea, 

No  sun  can  penetrate ; 
Water,  the  type  of  calmness,  we 

Sweet  calmness  emulate. 

To  live  where  nothing  stays  unchanged 

Must  be  a  tiresome  way ; 
When  everything  is  all  arranged, 

How  nice  to  have  it  stay! 


Long  baffled  knowledge  found  no  open  door 
To  Ocean's  charming  realm  of  phantasy. 
Where  tricksy  things  can  sport  right  royally. 
Fearing  no  master's  black,  condemning  mark. 
The  love  of  play  and  generous  helpfulness 


SEA  DRIFT.  109 

Made  shadowed  Hades  blossom  as  the  rose, 
And  silence  old  find  soft  impressive  voice. 
Darkness  congenital  awoke  in  light, 
To  sleep  again  in  more  profound  repose. 


The  golden  sparkles  drop  to  raven  black, 
With  little  surges  much  like  waywardness. 
Or  sad  and  sighing  breath  of  vanished  joy ; 
And  light  is  lost  as  waves  are  lost  at  sea. 


110  SEA  DRIFT. 


VIII. 

Yes :    claim  the  wliite  diamond  akin  to  black  coal ; 
Pray,  who  robs  the  eagle  and  skylark  of  soul  ? 
In  the  wide  sea  of  Time,  everything  laves, 
The  whole  teeming  world  is  afioat  on  its  waves 
And  all  of  its  flotsam,  painstaking,  it  saves. 


Impartial  Ocean,  helping  all  who  breathe, 
Thy  fishes  war  together,  rend  and  kill ; 
Hunting  the  feebler  folk  whom  they  devour, 
And  grow  in  strength  by  such  base  infamy! 

But  we,  mankind,  highest  of  rising  lite, 
Who  search  for  best  as  with  a  lighted  torch ; 
Full  panoplied  in  nice  fastidiousness, 
Wrapped  warm  in  sunshine, — hurt  and  slay 
On  greenest  earth  of  fruitful  heritage ! 
We,  too,  devour  all  creatures  less  endowed. 
If  they  but  tempt  capricious  appetite ! 

Then  is  their  waiting  no  alternative? 
Can  deep  research,  with  great  and  countless  gains 
Secured,  outline  the  Golden  Rule — revised? 


SEA  DRIFT.  Ill 

Will  no  way  open  out  from  this  dread  maze 

Of  life  for  life;  and  strength  from  conquered 

strength, 
A  way  where  all  may  walk  in  spotless  white? 

If  conflicts  wage  far  down  in  lonely  seas, 
Where  tender  helplessness  should  calmly  rest. 
Nor  dread  the  winter's  cold,  nor  summer's  heat — 
At    peace     for    unmarked,    creeping,    tarrying 

years — 
If  in  that  awesome  darkness,  pale  dumb  death 
Comes  stealthily,  waking  no  silences. 
Or  stirs  dumb  moans  and  dirges  pitiful; 
And  if  above,  mid  tidal  sobs,  poor  fish. 
Like  wounded  water,  yield,  making  no  sign, 
Though  mourned  by    wailing    of    the    hardest 

rocks ; 
If  in  cold  blood  all  tribes  on  others  feast 
And  thrive  by  weakness  they  can  chase  and  slay. 
Wiser  device  can  we  suggest  for  change? 
The  whole  quick  world  waits  answer,   in  sus- 
pense. 
Have  we  yet  learned  to  live  and  do  no  hurt 
To  those  less  wise  and  strong  than  we  ourselves  ? 

Man,  beast,  or  thing,  reacts  in  character, 
One's  deeds,  his  children — in  his  image  born. 
No  praters  ot  a  high  morality 


112  SEA  DRIFT. 

Find  out  a  kinder  way  than  these — our  peers, 
Broach  any  scheme  more  good,  complete,  or  fine. 
Then  all  our  houses  are  of  brittle  glass, 
And  we  defenceless  as  the  hungry  fish. 
Even  canine  giants  scorn  wasting  strength 
On  pigmies. 

If  arraigning  Providence, 
Pray,  who  has  fathomed  His  unfinished  plans. 
Their  complex  method  solved?    their  teaching 

learned  ? 
Divined  the  half  of  simplest  processes, 
Changes  and  more  changes,  in  ceaseless  flow, 
And  tracked  the  subtle  forces  to  their  goal? 
A  six-years'  babe  may  criticise  a  king; 
The  king,  with  smiles,  will  work  his  own  wise 

way. 

Gaunt  hunger  masters  all,  and  all  must  dine 
That  all  may  live !     If  one  must  surely  die 
May  early  dying  have  its  recompense? 
Sweet   rose    has    thorns;  sharp    points    pierce 

bleeding  flesh 
When  gathering  blossoms  of  best  charities ! 
Could  all  men  learn  to  feast  on  minerals, 
A  science  so  advanced  might  find  deep  life 
Also  in  these^— offshoots  of  Living  Mind. 


SEA  DRIFT,  113 

ALLIED. 

"I'm  the  seed  of  all  flesh!"  cried  out  the  ripe 

corn, 
"In  the  might  of  my  strength  the  man-child  is 

born !" 
"He  is  flesh  of  my  flesh  and  bone  of  my  bone!" 
Bleated  the  ewe  lamb — (important  her  tone)  ; — 
"And  he  drinks  of  my  cup!"  softly  laughed  the 

bright  water, 
"I  flow  in  the  veins  of  the  son  and  the  daugh- 
ter;— 
We  are  everyone  helpless  or  working  together. 
And  all  of  us  bound  by  the  very  same  tether; 
For  the  storm  like  the  sunshine  gladdens  the 
weather." 


Who  knows  the  end  of  that  which  has  no  end? 
If  all  is  of  All  Life,  then  all  is  life 
Though  it  has  never  known  itself  as  life, 
Nor  wakened  feeling  made  its  very  own. 

To  harm,  to  wrong,  to  give  another  pain, 
From  carelessness  or  base  malignity, 
Is  not  the  law  that  bids  us  eat  and  live; 
Is  not  the  law  that  bids  the  eaten  live 


114  SEA  DRIFT. 

His  endless  life  that  none  can  take  away! 
All  Life,  being-  All,  His  law  is  helpfulness — 
The  reverent  help  that  both  receives  and  gives. 
A  brokm  world  moves  on  in  asteroids 
Or    swarms    of    golden    meteors    clothed    with 

power, 
That  bravely  journey  onward  all  the  same. 
Such  crooked  lines  are  rods  but  water  bent; 
Raised  into  sunshine,  they  are  straight  again. 


LIFE. 

Feeling,  intense,  may  cease  to  feel, 
Not  hardened  as  with  nerves  of  steel. 

Simply  at  rest — laid  by  ; 
No  creature  lives  in  steady  glare 
Of  deep  emotions,  rich  and  rare; 

To  sleep  is  not  to  die ! 


The  senseless  stones,  not  yet  awake, 
In  heart  of  Life  their  long  nap  take; 

They  draw  no  vital  breath ; 
Have  not  achieved  the  waking  glow, 
Of  sentient  joys  or  sentient  woe; — 

There  is  no  other  death! 


SEA  DRIFT.  115 

Only  the  infinite  can  bear, 

Life  conscious  always,  everywhere, 

In  full  eternal  flow ; 
Though  life  is  cherished  deep  in  soul 
Of  everything — the  part,  the  whole, — 

Emotions  come  and  go. 


The  gift  of  self-hood  made  to  each, 
If  feeling  be  beyond  one's  reach, 

Helpful,  he  needs  must  wait; 
Can  one  help  best  by  laying  down 
Fresh  tasted  joys — there  waits  his  crown 

And  new  enlarged  estate! 


The  power  that  makes  for  righteousnesis, 
Plucked  at  by  ignorance,  yields  unripe  fruit; 
And  Nature's  service,  full,  beneficent. 
Works  but  a  hair's  breadth  off  from  fastenings 
That  may  throw  wide  the  gates  of  dire  distress. 
Mishap  clings  shadow  close  to  happiness, 
Yet  never  may  supplant  the  lawful  heir ; 
And  since  last  earthly  sleep  must  come  to  all, 
If  others  reap  from  our  unripened  field, 
Can  that  be  added  pain  to  consciousness? 


116  SEA  DRIFT. 


INCREASING  GAINS. 

To  wake  and  love  the  sun, 

To  bask  in  lii;lit. 
To  walk  and  leap  and  run 
Is  keen  (lelii;lit ; 
If  worm  or  snail  ean  even  creep, 
That  vivid  joy  has  eoiKjuered  sleep! 

On  floats  of  ^auze  to  fly, 

With  (lol])hins  swim. 
Tribute  is  to  earth  and  sky, 
The   ocean's   hymn  ; 
To  break  life's  zen^  line — the  start 
To  hnd  hrst  t^ood — is  ])riceless  art. 

First   sentient   breath   has   won! 

Come  then  what  may, 
The  life  of  life  bei^un, 
Redeemed  dull  clay, 
No  one  can  snatch  this  richest  prize; 
Let  no  one  dare  to  say:    "He  dies!'' 

To  win  hi<;h  human  thought. 

The  spirit's  llame ; 
To  learn  how  chant^^e  is  wrought. 

And  j)ush  one's  aim — 


SEA  DRIFT.  117 

His  waji^on  liitclunl  to  f^lcaniiiif!^  star — 
Is  just  below  wlicrc  angels  arc. 


Why   cnrsc    the   liartlness    of   llie    scheme   of 
things 
IVIoving  serenely  toward  the  warnilh  and  light? 
V.vvn  ])etrifaction  is  eonservalive ! 
Wise  arbitration   cancels  needless  war, 
Not  hunger — native  and  ])erennial — 
That,  can  but  order  well  its  times  and  modes. 


CREATIVE  PURPOSE. 

Did  God  say  in  his  beneficence  and  majesty, 

And  with  the  yearning  of  t'he  father's  heart? 

*T  cannot  bring  their  gaining  lives  too  close!  too 
close  I 

IVIy  little  children,  heli)less  else,  must  work  to- 
gether, 

Creating  for  themselves   their   sentient   gains 

As  I  created  them  for  their  unfolding  destinies. 

'Hiey  are  together  bound,  nor  ever  loosed,  al- 
though they  know  it  not. 

The  all,  is  all  for  each. 


118  SEA  DRIFT. 

The  stormiest  night  is  herald  of  the  rising  day 
yVnd  night  must  reign  till  sunny  day  is  born  in 

light ; 
And  blindness  lead  till  vision  points  the  way. 

"The   narrow   greeds   of   appetite,   imperative 

within, 
Strong  pushed,  will  venture  into  fields  without, 
Pricked  on  by  goads  to  seek  and  find; 
Will  hold  great  wealth 
Oi  poor  and  fleeting  values, 
Till  nobler  gains  are  prized  and  yield  their  loftier 

recompense. 
Till  opening  minds  search  long  to  penetrate  the 

night, 
Impelled,  to  eager  questioning  of  best  and  worst. 
The  heavy  clouds  of  overhanging  mysteries. 
Awesome  and  dread  while  still  unknown, 
Hold  mighty  powers  that  crush,  if  not  controlled. 
The  rash  and  cruel  deeds  rouse  dormant  zest  of 

life, 
Nourished  by   what  they   find ;  but   helped   and 

hurt  alike. 
They  help  and  hurt  in  turn — till,  wiser,  better 

grown. 
So  roots  in  darkness  nursed,  bloom  fair  in  light. 
y\nd  cold  and  stormy  dawn  melts  into  smiling 

day. 


SIL1  DRIFT.  lU) 

"The  personal  gain  to  each, — his  wakened  eon- 

sciousncss, 
Bright  feeling's  living  rise  and  growth, 
Volition,     action,     free     within     their     outlined 

bounds. 
The   wide  intelligence ; — becomes  his    own    for 

each ; 
Nor  one  of  all  his  many,  full,  successive  deeds — 
If  wrought  for  good  or  ill,  in  love  or  hate,  to 

one  or  all — 
Not  one  of  his  sweet,  vivid,  waiting  gains,  nor 

pains. 
Can  be  made  possible,  and  be  of  great  and  stable 

worth  or  loss. 
Unaided  and  alone ; 
Nor  can  I  make  them  his  by  gift — their  value 

still  retained. 


"Earth's  latest  guiding  factor,  high  born  con- 
scious power, 

For  all  success,  on  willing,   strong  co-workers 
must  depend ; 

As  still  unsentient  being  does  on  its  allies. 

Motion,  predestined  quick  Emotions  nurse, 

Sharp  pain  will  lead  as  elder  brother  in  the  march 
of  life. 


120  SEA  DRIFT. 

''My  strong,  mind-sleeping  children,  jointly 
build 

The  substances  and  worlds,  and  all  their  forms; 

Their  intervening  details  justly,  deftly  wrought; 

And  yet,  unreasoning  power  strews  peril  often- 
times, 

Breeding  disasters  needless,  manifold  and  great, 

Though  working  ever  on  as  best  it  can. 

*'The  unlearned,  little  foolish  minds,  with  dull 

short-sightedness. 
Choosing  to  be  themselves  first  served  and  best 
Must  for  themselves  and  others  pluck  sad  and 

bleeding  hurts. 
So  they  and  all  will  suffer  long  and  grievously; 
But  healing  also  comes  with  balm. 
Borne  safely  in  the  very  arms  of  wrongs  and 

crude  mistakes. 


"Occult  and  strange  will  seem  these  devious 

ways, 
Their  complex  lessons  deep  and  hard — for  long 

— to  read  aright; 
But  all  my  children — all — must  learn  to  work 
In  bonds  of  just  and  generous  strong  fraternity. 
To  act  from  one's  own  plane,  from  hard  won 

choice, 


SEA  DRIFT.  121 

But  all  my  children — all — must  learn  to  work 
In  bonds  of  just  and  generous  strong  fraternity. 
To  act  from  one's  own  plane,  from  hard  won 

choice, 
Though  taught  in  fires  of  sevenfold  heat  and 

hurt. 
Has  satisfactions  of  the  mightiest  worth, — 
Only  real  good  for  all  who  breathe  and  seek  for 

happiness, 
Commissioned  each  to  live  and  learn  where  gain 

is  sure. 
Conditioned    methods,    framed    in    utmost    love 

and  care, 
Despite  all  penalties, 
And    through    the    strenuous    aid    of    wisdom 

which  they  teach. 
Are  sovereign  remedies, 

With  time — made  endless — working  endless  rec- 
ompense. 

"Dependent  each  on  all,  as  on  the  air  they 

breathe, 
'Tis    they,     themselves,    must   win   the   offered 

heritage ! 
My  children,  helpless  else,  must  help  each  other ! 
I  cannot  draw  weak,  gaining  lives  too  close  for 

their  own  good." 


122  SEA  DRIFT. 

Shadows  that  fright  and  ignorance  mislead, 
Arc  but  the  ghosts  of  things  whose  deepest  pulse 
Beats  not  quite  perfectly  with  pulse  of  light, 
Though  born  within  the  inmost  heart  of  forms 
As  bones  within  the  rounded  living  flesh. 
Bright  color,  form's  aesthetic  cuticle, 
Is  wealth  of  beauty,  richly  manifest 
To  every  eye  and  heart  endowed  to  feel ; 
It  wraps  all  forms  in  breathing  loveliness; 
But  shadows  wait  outside,  and  dog  the  real 
As  night  drags  on  the  skirts  of  royal  day, 
And  stretching  them,  lets  misty  twilight  through. 

Shadows  are  poorest  tribes  of  parasites, 
Which  shrink  and  hide,  changing  like  shifting 

winds. 
They  always  stay  outside,  and  will  be  lost 
When  motion's  finest,  full  accord  is  gained, 
And  every  separate  pulse  is  throbbing  true 
To  ordered  concert  of  the  perfect  whole. 
When  shadows  die  and  pure  reflections  live, 
The  Beautiful  her  choicest  things  can  give, 
And  Nature  everywhere  be  justified. 

As  complex  problems  wait  for  higher  skill, 
So  messages  wrapped  up,  unopened  still, 
Are  hard  to  read,  but  read  at  last  aright 
As  plain  as  A  B  C,  stand  out  in  light 
And  leave  us  wondering  over  dullard  sight. 


SEA  DRIFT.  123 


TWO  WAYS. 

The  green  leaves  sere  and  brown  bark  '-ough, 
Rich  Nature  cries,  "Enough !  enough !" 
And  provident  as  honey  bee, 
She  piles  her  fruit  beneath  the  tree — 
Her  leaves  all  loosed  and  wandering  free. 

The  years  like  seeds  are  sown ; 
The  tree  and  its  descendants  thrive 
And  choicest  fruits  are  born,  survive, 
In  their  descendants,  finer  grown. 
Nor  manna-gatherers  they  alone, 
Where  gains,  not  dragon's  teeth,  are  strewn! 
Small  change  on  changes  so  arranged 
That  all  the  forms  of  life  are  changed, 
Till  not  a  man  left  here  alive 
The  cruder  past  has  felt  or  known. 
No  complex  structures  farther  from  the  Saurian 

age 
Than  supple  human    forms   in   onward  stage. 
So,   .smiling,    prosperous    Earth    still    high    and 

higher 
Moves  up  in  dignity  as  by  her  own  desire. 

No  structural  change  in  Ocean's  range 
And  nothing  new  or  newly  strange. 


124  SEA  DRIFT. 

Type   visible   of   moving   steadfastness 
Helping  the  gaining  world  in  its  onpress. 
Like  you  and  me  in  real  identity, 
Unchanged  in  actual,  priceless  entity, 
As  every  God-constructed  thing  must  be. 

The  wide  sea  craves  no  structural  gains, 
Great  billows  rise  on  Ocean  plains, 
His   storms   uplift    high  shadowed  forms, 
Hard  blows,  with  tumult,  take  and  give; 
Then  heartening  all  the  ancient  norms, 
Roll  on  in  sunshine,  glad  to  live. 

Bright,  lesser  waves  that  never  rest, — 
A  world  of  power  in  each  compressed — 
In  storm  and  sunshine  do  their  best. 
The  long  tides  roll  and  ever  roll, 
Nor  ever  seek  a  restful  goal ; 
Slow  inlets  rise  and  fall  as  beggars  stroll ; 
The  rains  and   rivers   dropping  in. 
Supply  the  clear  staccato  din 
To  ocean  voices,  never  still ; 
But  sea  and  land  with  legends  fill, 
To  teach  mankind.     Both  methods   win. 
Dame   Nature's   powerful   hand   holds    fast   the 

helm. 
And    guides    each    freighted    bark    to    destined 
realm. 


SEA  DRIFT.  125 


NATURE. 


Nature's  great  mysteries, 

Flowerlike    unfold ; 
Solved,   their  proud  histories, 

When   clearly  told, 
Show   only   benefits, 

Aid,   freely  given. 
Time's  affidavits 

So  much  have  proven! 

Nature    is    orderly, 

Complex,  but  just; 
Ensured   accordingly. 

Trust  her  we  must. 
All   faith  is   strengthening — 

Nature  proved  right — 
Every  gain  lengthening 

Clearer   insight. 

Teeming  life  everywhere, 

Sleeping,  awake, 
Work,  each  his  own  share, 

Must    undertake ; 
Hedged  in  with  barriers. 

These  will  break  down; 
Nature's   sure   carriers 

Ensure  her  renown. 


126  SEA  DRIFT. 


IX. 


Clear,  crystal  Ocean,  art  insatiate?   Thou! 
Though  hunger  urges  not  to  fearful  deeds? 
Men   lay  ten   myriad   deaths   at  thy  dark   door 
Which  opes  so  freely,  but  shuts  close  again, 
Telling  few  tales  of  awful  tragedy. 
They  call  thee  treacherous,  more  hard  of  heart 
Than  any  rock  in  all  thy  gray  cold  world 
Whose  fogs  devour  the  valleys  quick  with  corn. 
Dost  woo  poor,  trustful  men,  by  luring  smiles, 
To  tempt  the  faithless,  hollow,  ravening  waves 
Who  swallow  them  as  hungry  beasts  their  prey? 
They  call  thee  lawless,  cruel,  pitiless, 
The  fcaster  on  love's  wildest  agonies. 
In   their   long   ache   of   grief,   men    smite   with 

words, 
As  fierce  winds  smite  with  blows,  thy  wounded 

cheek. 

Far  be  from  thee,  kingly  in  thy  great  power, — 
The  willing  burden  bearer  for  all  need. 
Soother  of  pain,  patron  of  life  itself, 
The  great  restorer  of  all  fainting  souls, — 


SEA  DRIFT.  127 

Far  be  from  thee,  of  vast  sweet  pliancy, 

From  greed  or  treachery — no  good  end  sought — 

To  chill  one  beating  heart  or  rob  one  joy! 


Art  not  relentless !    then,  why  floods  of  tears 
By  mothers  shed  for  sad  child-loss  and  pain? 
And  fathers  hopeless  bowed,  as  age-worn  men. 
When  thou  hast  clasped  and  hold  their  best  be- 
loved, 
And  covered  in  thy  bosom,  slumber  rock? 


Are   these   but   grief-blind    plaints   of   aching 

hearts 
They  shoulder  off  on  tireless  helpfulness? 
Thy  garnering  floor  is  laid  in  no  pretense. 
Spreads  wide,  and   far,  and   free,  like  heaven's 

blue  dome, 
With  offered  place  and  rest  for  all  who  come ! 
If  baby  fingers  seize  the  glittering  flame, 
Who  curses  sword-edged  fire  because  it  hurts? 
A  rushing  car  must  crush  the  dearest  child, 
That  stumbling  in  its  path,  yields  up  sweet  life ; 
Earthquakes  must  shake  the  Earth,  when  down 

below 
The  Titan  Forces  find  no  room  to  work ! 


128  SEA  DRIFT. 

That  Power  which   gave   them   power   within 
their  bounds, 
Could  not  revoke  his  franchise  and  not  shake 
His  universe  and  every  hfe  he  gave — 
Undoing  all  his  just  beneficence! 
After  its  own  methods,  each  thing  must  work, 
With  best,  straightforward,  wisest  zeal  it  can. 
Though  earth  and  sea  wail  long  in  blinded  grief ! 
If  finite  best  is  misinterpreted 
And  smitten  as  for  crimes,  even  so  they  smite 
The  Source  of  all  that  lives,  misreading  Him ! 

When  zvisdoin  works,  its  work  well  done. 
Can't  ravel  out — once  more  begun. 

Ocean's  not  hard  to  men  and  not  malign 
Unless  the  softest  heart  our  world  can  boast 
Is  deepest  sham  and  moral  adamant! 
All  functions  are  allied  in  honest  lazv. 
Swift  wheels  go  round  and  one  ungeared. 
Would   work  disaster  till   the   whole  had   died, 
Creation  falling  backward — uncreate. 
While  waters  ripple  at  the  touch  of  winds, 
Shimmer  and  lift  their  crowned  white  heads  in 

song 
At  every  stirring  whisper  of  soft  breeze ; 
When  mad  winds  urge  with  storm,  their  tower- 
ing might 


SEA  DRIFT.  129 

Must  wreck  the  blundering,  reckless  craft  at  sea. 
Mankind's   best   enterprises — shadow  haunted — 
Behind  their  best  results  draw  fearful  trains 
Of  casualties  no  generous  heart  desires ! 

Constructive  freedom,  always  limited, 
Inborn  method  through  its  limits  rises, 
And  nothing  finite  but  must  work  within! 
Nature,  enchained  by  sheer  necessity. 
Might  bring  no  ill ;  but  poor  would  be  her  good, 
No  freedom  given  to  mind !    Matter  itself 
Is  free  to  change  and  move  through  space,  in 

time, 
When    helpful    neighbors    share!      Conditioned 

force, — 
The  only  force  with  which  the  finite  works — 
In  neighborly  combine  and  ready  change, 
Is  free  within  its  bounds. 


If  Jesus  wept 
For  Lazarus  dead,  though  bound  to  ransom  him, 
The  loving  heart  may  mourn  its  early  lost 
Till  bleeding  griefs  are  changed  to  clear-eyed 

smiles ! 
To-day's  hot  tears  become  to-morrow*s  pearls, 
And  priceless  compensations,  treasure  trove! 
But  feeling  feeds  on  bleeding  present  loss 


130  SEA  DRIFT. 

And  little  heeds  the  future's  heritage; 

Fond  heart  oft  breaks  the  laws  wise  head  has 

made; 
And  blinded  grief  would  mar  unripened  good. 

The  swift-winged  conflict  battling  overhead, 
And  stalwart  men  rough  swept  from  love  and  life, 
I've  heard  deep  sobbing  in  the  midnight  watch 
As  though  all  Nature's  soul  in  protest  broke 
For  other's  woes.     There  was  no  power  to  save. 
The  wealth  of  tears  for  drowned  humanity 
Is  poured  on  soils  which  take  and  straight  for- 
get. 

Are  not  obedient  surfs  bade  faithfully 
To   bear  .the   drowned    child   back   to   mother's 

arms? 
The  reaching  shores  are  pitying  witnesses 
How  roughest  billows  aid  the  sacred  task ; 
And  all  they  can,  things  most  insensate  do 
In  close  accord  with  Order's  perfect  law. 

Soft  grace  that  shapes  itself  to  every  cup, 
Close  clinging  to  all  sides  with  reaching  clasp; 
That,   trusting,   paints   itself  with  every  dye, 
Clouded,  or  enriched  to  splendid  brilliancy ; 
That  washes  clean  all  soil,  accepts  the  stain. 
Drops  it,  to  sparkle  crystal  clear  again — 


SEA  DRIFT.  131 

These  are  all  matchless  gifts  on  virtue's  side, 
For  which  we  praise  thee,  Ocean,  and  admire. 
Responsiveness  thou  never  may'st  transcend, 
Responsiveness  thou  never  shouldst  transcend ! 
Thy    treasured    greatness,    and    thy    trenchant 

power, 
Are  held  as  in  the  hollow  of  His  hand 
Who  teaches  men  alike  by  good  and  bad ; 
The  bad  which  they,  themselves,  in  folly  wrought ; 
He  gave  thee  service,  set  in  rank  thy  bounds. 


Vast  pliability,  of  subtle  reach. 
Moves  lathe,  wheel,  saw  and  spindle,  cheerily- 
Floods  open  channels  with  a  fluent  wealth 
When  men  lead  on ;  transforms  itself  to  steam — 
Bright  Ariel  of  the  now  confederate  world, 
Still  doing  more  than  work  of  Hercules 
Or  Sisyphus,  asking  no  recompense; 
Rejoicing  with  expanding  willingness 
To  aid  all  purposes  that  mind  suggests — 
These  virtues,  while  men  keep  the  sense  to  prize 
Service  unstinted  as  the  breath  we  breathe. 
May  heal  all  thoughts  of  ill,  but  good  disguised. 
There's  round  and  square,  but  both  are  never 

one; 
Nor  can  they  be  in  any  world  of  space. 


132  SEA  DRIFT. 


PERSPECTIVE. 

Horizon  always  chained  to  earth, 

Measured  by  few  short  miles  across — 

Is  what  one  sees  of  mij^^hty  worth 
In  reckoning  endless  gain  and  loss? 

One's  finger,  near,  can  hide  yon  spire 
Outlined  in  beauty  on  the  sky; 

Yon  mountain,  tipped  with  evening  fire. 
On  far  horizon  towering  high ! 

A  little  Moses,  pleased  with  toys, 

May  scorn  great  gifts  from  royal  hand; 

The  man  whom  Providence  employs, 
May  fail  to  reach  the  promised  land. 

A  heart  disturbed  by  petty  spite, 
That  hungrily  devours  its  zeal, 

Is  blind  to  soul's   redeeming  light; 
Is  numb  to  hopes  the  generous  feel. 

Vast  worlds  seem  little  golden  nails. 
Which  grace  a  bending  azure  floor; 

Is  death  the  end  when  swcJl  life  fails? 
The  usher,  opening  loftier  door? 


SEA  DRIFT.  183 

Horizon,  ever  chained  to  earth, 
Measured  by  only  miles  across! 

Is  what  man  sees  of  mighty  worth 
In  reckoning  life's  full  gain  and  loss? 


A  kingly  realm  exacts  conformity 
In  its  domain  to  upright  policy ! 
Ocean,  how  more  than  willingly  thou  wouldst, 
How  more  than  willingly,  Ocean,  thou  wouldst 
Life  fitted  to  thee  as  the  glove  to  hand, 
In  all  its  forms  might  thrive,  clasped  in  great 

arms 
Of  soothing  softness!     The  shining,  swimming 

hoards, 
Though  clad  in  silver  mail,  purple  and  gold, 
Speed  swift  as  arrows  from  the  bended  bow 
To  every  goal  a  vagrant  fancy  craves. 
Fish,  domiciled  in  private  tents  of  pearl, 
Wrought  thick  with  carvings  rare,  and  paintings 

rich — 
Small  temples  of  thick-ribbed,  banded  strength- 
Move  house  at  will  for  better  pasturage. 
Some,  stationed  in  the  homes  of  ancestors. 
Rest  there  in  confidence,  awaiting  gifts 
Which  seek  them  as  glad  sunshine  seeks  earth's 

flowers. 
All  these  luxuriate  in  thy  glorious  bath. 


134  SEA  DRIFT. 

To  s€a-wards,  ocean  born,  and  ocean  bred. 
Thy   largess   is   as   rich   and   full   as   wish   may 

crave. 
To  men  endowed  with  sun-warm  gifts  of  earth. 
All  this  and  more  is  free,  could  we  accept. 
We  all  may  pluck  free  treasures  from  thy  deeps 
As  welcome  as  from  hawthorn  bush  in  i\Iay, 
Still  living  our  own  lives  on  gracious  earth; 
May    send    our    ships    around    the    whole   wide 

world 
On  thy  sustaining,  faithful  bosom  held. 
Upborne  and  forwarded  in  loyalty. 


IMPARTIAL  LOVE. 

Sweet  mother-love,  the  mother's  tenderest  loy- 
alty. 

Though  her  untoward  children  strive  in  jealousy, 

Has  won  all  hearts,  since  Eve,  who  wept  first 
tears  for  Abel, 

Could  not  unlearn  sweet  tenderness  divinely 
stable : 

But  mourning  one  child  slain,  the  other  sorely 
pitied. 

And  would  have  borne  his  penalty  had  God 
permitted. 


SEA  DRIFT.  135 

Thou,  Ocean,  only  stepsire  of  the  curious  nations 
Who  invade  thy   province    and    pre-empt    full 

rations, 
Benignant  art;  like  God  in  highest  charity, 
Who  sends  sweet  rain,  sunlight  and  warmth,  in 

purity. 
On    just   and    unjust   both : — needless,   not   one 

harassing — 
Impartial  goodness,  even  mother-love  surpassing. 

In  stillest,  safest  nooks,  thou  hidest  shelteringly, 
The   lack    of    strength,    of   moveniicnt,    of    fair 

symmetry, 
And   spread'st   remote   wide   seas   for   graceless 

enmity : 
For  feebleness,  inventing  quaint  indemnity ; 
And    nurturing    every    least    advance,    through 

weary  stages, 
Foster    their    slow    made    gains    for    lingering, 

patient  ages! 


Who  claims  the  more  than  innate  power  can 
give? 
Olympian  Jove  held  thunders  in  his  hand, 
Bright  Phoebus  drove  the  chariot  of  the  sun. 
And  lions  use  their  strength  with  feline  grace. 
Small  robin  red  breast  has  but  dainty  ways — 


136  SEA  DRIFT. 

Beauty  and  morning  songs  and  building  skill; 
Each  gives  but  from  himself,  and  what  he  loves. 
^Twould  be  a  monstrous  wrong  to  ask  for  more ; 
The  best  one  can,  should  give  unmixed  content. 

Sweeter    the    songs    in   trees   than   thunder's 

voice ; 
One  sunbeam  wields  more  power  than  leagues  of 

shade, 
And  morning  dewdrops  have  no  peers  in  gems. 
We  pluck  not  grapes  from  thorns  nor  figs  from 

thistles. 
Peter  said,  "Such  as  I  have  give  I  thee." 
To  meet  just  claims  wins  royal  heritage; 
But    grumblers    know    not    when   or   where   to 

blame. 

WHICH? 

The  tempest  is  raging,  oh,  right  fearfully; 
But  which  one  began  it,  the  wind  or  the  sea? 
Which  one  is  tossing  black  clouds  in  the  air, 
Which  chasing  and  racing  the  fastest  out  there' 
Great  ships  are  battered,  strong  ships  are  broken  ; 
Voices  in  infinite  protest  have  spoken ; 
The  grey  wolves  are  howling,  the  timid  sheep 

flee, 
And  which  one  began  it,  the  wind  or  the  sea? 


SEA  DRIFT.  137 

Great  Ocean  is  boiling  with  mad  energy, 
But  which  one  began  it,  the  wind  or  the  sea? 
New  mountains  uprising  Hke  old  Babel  towers, 
Drop  down  into  babel,  where  tumult  devours. 
The   hammer   and   clamor   poor   sea    folk   have 

frightened. 
And    fiercely    in    snatches    dense    blackness     is 

lightened ; 
With    strain    as    of    cordage,    the    braces    are 

tightened ; 
With  clashing  and  crashing,  great  blows  falling 

free, 
Oh,  which  one  began  it,  the  wind  or  the  sea? 


If  blame  we  must,  why !  rate  the  errant  winds 
That  smite  a  yielding  face  with  raging  blasts. 
Goading  deep  waters  on  to  fateful  deeds ; 
Yet  winds  are  laden  messengers  of  health. 
Their  stormy  wings  heaped  high  with  priceless 

gifts 
For  every  need.     All  taunts,  they  can  receive 
With  airy  grace  and  strew  on  desert  sands. 
This  carries  back  sharp  discontent  one  step, 
And    hints    that   all    the    fruits    from    Nature's 

store ; — 
Pomegranates  and  apples  of  Sodom,  both — 
Are  best  dull,  carping  souls  can  fitly  take. 


138  SEA  DRIFT. 

Turn,  then,  our  faces  toward  deep  gratitude 
That  Cause,  two  ways  must  face  for  good  and 
bad. 


The  marts  of  commerce  trust  to  Ocean's  faith, 
A  milhon  ferries  ply  from  shore  to  shore. 
Vast  treasures,  over  welcome  unblazed  path 
Are  piloted  from  earth's  remotest  lands, 
And  men  adventure  lives  on  stormy  seas 
Freely  as  birds  spread  wings  in  fitful  air ; 
Man's  hope  entrenched  in  sacred  realm  of  Law; 
Nor  ever,  Ocean,  hast  thou  broken  faith. 
Elastic,  molten  glass,  thy  waters  are, 
Thy  broad,  sustaining  shoulder  lifting  all 
To  level  of  self-help  and  competence — 
Their  guidance  justly  leaving  to  themselves. 
Mind's  best  devices,  better,  wiser  planned, 
Should  circumvent  all  casualties! 


With  venturous  journeyings  among  the  stars, 
With  boundless,  gracious  amplitude  of  change. 
Yet  thou,  no  more  than  mortal  man,  canst  vault 
Beyond  thyself,  nor  win  an  alien  goal. 
Unchanged  thy  glorious  attributes  ;    Earth  firm ; 
As  staid  as  Earth's  rock-sinewed  ancient  hills, 
Nor  more  unnerved;  nor  moved  from  sturdiest 
base; 


SEA  DRIFT.  139 

Help  thou  to  justify  His  ways  in  Time, 

Who  leaves  the  evil  bound  in  sheaves  with  good, 

To  wait  the  future's  wider  recompense! 


COMPENSATION. 

The  restless   tides  that  never  sleep. 
Are  anchored  safe  in  moveless  deep. 

Some  balm  is  grown  for  every  ill, 
And  each  low  vale  adores  its  hill. 

Rest,  fulcrum  proves  to  all  unrest. 

And  motion  springs  from  moveless  breast. 

Content  is  core  of  discontent, 

From  crooked  bow  straight  arrows    sent. 

Post  haste  can  snatch  a  quick  relay. 
Calm  night  repair  the  fretted  day. 

Sleep,  mainspring  is  to  waking  life, 
And  peace  is  pivotal  in  strife. 

So  brawling  tides  that  cannot  sleep, 
Are  anchored  firm  in  voiceless  deep. 


140  SEA  DRIFT. 

X. 

SERVICE, 

Wide  Ocean's  carven  shores  reach   round  and 

round  the  world; 
Deep  in  and  out  the  wandering,  winding  Hnes 

are  curled. 
Here,  low  and  sandy  plain,  there,  high  and  rocky 

ledge ; 
Rich  fretted  lace  of  silver  glorifies  its  edge. 

Wide    strewn    as    lively   breezes   scatter   plumy 

seeds, 
Are   sea-tossed   shells   of  pearl   and   sea-grown 

dainty  weeds; 
Like    olden    stately    courtiers,    magnificent   and 

grand, 
Old    Ocean   kneels    to   kiss   the   great   Queen's 

royal  hand. 


With  hospitality  they  learned  of  thee, 
Ocean,  thy  wards  most  kindly  offers  make 
To  share  their  best,  and  live  their  sea-glad  lives. 
Small,  gentle  dwellers  in  bright  bowers  of  plants. 


SEA  DRIFT.  141 

Afloat,  and  journeying  safely  on  thy  waves, 
I  hear  low  coaxing  me  like  charm  of  dreams; 
Or,  are  they  only  beckoning  with  their  smiles — 
Sight  one,  in  miracle,  with  wooing  song? 


SEAWEED  ISLAND  LIFE. 

Come  and  share  our  tossing  homesteads, 
Come  and  rest  on  floating  sea  beds ! 

Welcome  warm  we  give ; 
Not  a  swimmer  more  contented; 
Island   steadings   still   unrented; 

Come,  see  how  we  live! 

On  our  lonely,  wandering  island, 
Waving  fronds,  like  flowers  of  highland. 

Sea  waifs  love  the  sky; 
Borrow  all  its  sunny  brightness. 
And  at  night,  its  purer  whiteness, 

Moon  or  stars  on  high. 

In  small  houses,  mottled,  pearly, 
Hid  in  fern  woods  green  and  curly. 

Wee  folk  gently  live; 
Some,  the  sweetest  baby  fishes, 
Tucked  up  warm  in  wave  carved  dishes; 
Some,  in  open  sieve. 


142  SEA  DRIFT. 

Hundreds  of  our  winsome  people, 
Round  as  dots  or  long  as  steeple. 

Bright  as  flowers, 
Walk,  or  crawl,  or  swim,  or  waggle; 
For  Best  places  seldom  haggle — 

Where  we  are,  is  ours. 

Guests  we  have,  dear  little  skaters, 
Sometimes  wranglers  and  debaters; 

Then,  we  float  away; 
Things  that  live  here  altogether, 
Never  minding  wind  or  weather. 

Nestle  dowm  and  play. 

All  the  great  waves,  island  rocking, 
And  the  wild  winds  whistling,  mocking, 

Move  us  round  and  round; 
We  are  Ocean's  sons  and  daughters. 
Oh,  we  love  the  dashing  waters, 

Love  their  swirling  sound. 


Within  a  narrow  sheltered  cove, 
O'erhung  by  green,  low  wooded  grove 
Mid  plashing  rhythmic  murmurs  sweet, 
Of  ripples  lapping  round  my  feet. 


SEA  DRIFT.  143 

A  shrill,  small  voice  comes ;— far  off  calling, 
Calling  through  hoarse  tide-waves,  brawling; 
Like  strands  of  light,  w'ith  metes  and  bounds, 
It  threads  its  way  through  clang  of  sounds. 


THE  CORAL  REEF. 

Oh,  come  where  coral  sea-fronds  red. 
Lift  up  stone  branches  high  o'erhead! 
These  groves  are  large  and  strongly  made, 
Yon  shore  in  their  wide  arms  is  laid. 

Small,  ancient  masons  raised  high  towers. 
Laid  stone  on  stone  and  lined  with  flowers ; — 
The  noblest   palaces — these   rare 
Old  scuttled  dwellings  marble  fair; 

Cathedrals  grand  our  masons  formed, 
And  sea-washed,  large-doorcd  temples,  warmed 
With  window-light  still  soft  and  clear ; 
And  branching  galleries,  tier  on  tier. 

Sea  horses  rush  to  our  front  door. 
Untamed ;  onrushing,  mad  with  power ; 
But  fortress-checked  their  royal  sport. 
Back  off  subdued;    we  hold  the  fort! 


144  SEA  DRIFT. 

Old  Father  Time  for  ages  sought 
These  pillared  marbles,  strangely  wrought : — 
Now  roofed  above  with  green  clad  hills, 
Adown  their  steeps  leap  joyous  rills. 

In  pearl  or  rose-red  coral  banks, 
The  dear  old  homes  are  cheap  as  thanks ; 
Come,  pre-empt  grand,  high  chambers  formed 
In  this  great  fortress  we  have  stormed! 

Fierce  winds  have  battered  at  our  doors, 
Great  tidal  waves  swept  stone  laid  floors; 
Hot  suns  looked  on  with  burning  gaze ; — 
Our  strong  towers  stand  from  ancient  days. 

Come  where  the  sea-kissed  white  and  red, 
Grew  marble  branches  high  o'erhead; 
Stone  woods  so  strong  and  stoutly  made, 
This  shore  in  their  wide  arms  is  laid ! 


Was  it  a  living,  conscious  voice  I  heard? 
Were   old,    deep    realms   of   mystery   strangely 

stirred  ? 
Is  low,  aspiring  life  proved  far  more  wide 
Than  onward  movement  of  the  human  tide? 
Or,  should  a  saner  mood  weak  dream?  deride^ 


SEA  DRIFT^  145 

As  in  a  dream,  I  rose  and  slowly  walked, 
I  wandered  on  the  ancient  coral  shore, 
And  rested  on  the  old  and  faded  sands. 
My  listening  heart  turned  toward  the  vanished 

past. 
The  waiting  storm    breathed    mist    and    distant 

ram ; 
Long,  heaving  billows  slowly  rose  and  plunged, 
To  leap  again  with  more  determined  spring. 


Far   off,    against    the     sky,    moved     strange 
blurred  forms 
Which   grew    to   chariot     shape,    black    horses 

drawn. 
Steeds   restless,   champing   monstrous   flecks   of 

foam. 
And  rearing  till  they  seemed  to  stand  upright. 
An  august  driver  stood  erect  and  large, 
His  mild  eyes  seemed  to  drink  the  darkness  up, 
His   smile   shot   through   the   pageant,   mist  en- 
wrapped. 
On  either  side,  like  pictured  triton  sons. 
Loomed   forms   which   kept   abreast   of   his   ad- 
vance ; 
And  in  the  rear,  as  dark  clouds  vanishing. 
And  showing  clear  again  by  cumbrous  leaps, 
A  strange  and  freakish  ghostly  following. 


146  SEA  DRIFT. 

My  heart  throbbed  hard  and  cried,  "Ah,  can  it 

be 
What  I  have  thought  was  but  a  dying  myth, 
The  sea-god  Neptune  and  his  dolphin  crew, 
And  faithful  whales,  who  love  his  neighborhood ! 
Oh,  are  these  more  than   rough,  cloud-kissing 

waves?" 

A  voice  as  deep  as  Ocean's  bass  and  sweet 
As  Alpine  horn,  far-echoing  replied. 
And  all  the  troubled  air  grew  still  to  hear. 

NEPTUNE. 

I  am  Neptime,  from  my  warmer  land-locked  sea ; 
But    I    ride   the    deep   blue   whole   wide   ocean 

through ; 
Every   scene   you   please,   come  find   at   nearer 

view ! 
All   their   charming   wonders   waiting   long   for 

you ; 

Come  and  ride  with  me. 

I'll  command  the  raging  storm- waves  far  off  flee, 
Raise  you  grandest  tempests  just  as  you  desire. 
Court  you  worlds  of  glittering  icebergs  till  you 

tire. 
Find  you  largess  under  the  Equator's  fire, 
If  you  ride  with  me. 


SEA  DRIFT.  147 

I  can  make  soft  days  like  brilliant  fancies  free ; 
Make  all  the  deep  sea  plains  rare  marvel  givers; 
Ride  full  against  or  with  sea's  gliding  rivers; 
Bear  you  triumphant  through  all  tidal  shivers; 
Will  you  ride  with  me? 

In  the  olden  wealth  of  sea-god's  majesty, 
In  high  royal  pomp  of  long  acknowledged  power, 
Little  loved  we  freakish  mist  as  sea-gift  dower 
Courting  sunshine,  or  the  grander  tempest  hour, 
They  v/ho  rode  with  me. 

Bowing  gladly  new  to  shade-sweet  destiny, 
Veiled  in  gathering  films  of  gray  soft  dreaminess. 
Wooing  only  old-time  memories'  caress. 
Through  the  lovely  haunts  of  yore,  wide-eyed, 
on  press 

All  who  ride  with  me. 

Gray  old  Neptune  from  the  warmer,  land-locked 

sea; 
Still  I  roam  the  deep  blue,  whole  wide  ocean 

through, 
All  the  glorious  changes,  every  nearer  view. 
And  my  world  of  wonders  wait  how  long  for 


youl 


Could  you  ride  with  me! 


148  SEA  DRIFT. 

Most  strangely  towards  the  sea-god  turned  my 
heart ; 
My  heavy  feet  seemed  rooted  in  the  sand, 
And  sinking  deeper  as  I  heard  with  awe. 
Half  kneeling  I  could  only  shake  my  head, 
And  bowing  shame-faced,  try  to  gaze  afar ; 
But  with  a  gracious  wave  of  majesty, 
With  a  half  smile,  that  wondrous  living  Myth 
Drew  curtains  of  thick  mist  about  his  head 
And  cloud-enfolded  his  strange  retinue; 
And  slowly,  softly  sank  the  pageant  host 
Beneath  the  waves,  leaving  a  silver  glow 
That  spread  like  lingering  twilight  far  and  near. 

A  thousand  soft,  sweet  voices  seemed  to  speak ; 
As  every  water  drop  half  talked,  half  sang, 
With  soul  and  feeling  of  its  very  own. 
And  living  out  its  own  soft,  sensuous  life — 
The  tones  all  mingled  in  the  old  full  swell 
Of  Ocean's  plashing,  rhythmic  melody; 
Yet  heard  in  multitudes  by  listening  ear. 
The  hum  of  city  marts,  where  every  voice 
Has  burdened  utterance  its  very  own, 
Declaring  feeling,  purpose,  urgent  hopes; 
But  swelling  in  one  commonwealth  of  sound, 
Is  but  the  larger,  harsher  duplicate 
Of  these  small  voices  in  the  joyful  sea — 
Remote  from  care  as  zenith  from  the  Earth. 


SEA  DRIFT.  149 

It  made  me  know  these  too,  may  climb  up  higher 

In  other  realms  of  sentience  than  ours, 

That  like  our  own  is  nurtured  in  the  love 

Of  one  abounding,  tender  sympathy. 

The  changing  sea  its  vesper  service  held 

In  praise  and  gratitude  as  real  as  ours, 

With  not  a  note  of  jangling  bells  untuned. 

The  wooing  sweetness    drew    my    wondering 
heart 
Almost  from  out  my  bosom  as  I  knelt. 
I  bent  my  head  in  listening  reverence 
To  catch  the  least  of  this  deep  mystery 
I  might  not  fathom  ;  though  I  heard  and  felt 
Sweet   voices  whispering:  ''Come  and   learn!" 

But  something  nearer  said :  ''Your  own  work 
waits ! 
To  each  is  given  share  of  help  for  all, 
Uplifting  far  dependent  worlds  hairs'  breadth, 
In  sentience  beautiful  beyond  compare! 
To  each  his  own  well  ordered,  fitting  realm, 
More  varied  than  all  voices  of  the  sea, 
Or   winds,   and   trees,   and   men,   and   wordless 

brutes ; 
Than  all  the  changes  great  Earth  knows ! 
Feeling  and  thought  their  many  mansions  have 
In  the  vast  kingdom  of  increasing  life; 


150  SEA  DRIFT. 

And  in  them  all,  is  immanent  the  Life  of  life! 

The  One  in  all,  as  all  in  One, — all  win! 

Hold  then,  and  keep  your  own  great  heritage." 

I  rose  as  clothed  anew  in  strength  and  hope, 
Though  wooing  voices  came  on  every  wave, 
Inviting  me  to  join  their  cheerful  bands. — 
An  urgent,  more  insistent  company, 
With  pleasing  clang  of  cymbals,  beating  time, 
Eager  and  joyous,  cried:  "Force  on  a  march! 
Onward!  onward,  somewhere  to  the  great  un- 
known, 
Where  marvels  of  new  joyous  life  await!" 
As  one  would  gladly  fly  with  swift-winged  birds 
To  summer  lands,  my  longing  heart  would  go 
With  all  of  them. 

I  hear  new  voices,  calling 
Like  flutter  of  the  wings  of  humming  birds, 
With  breath  of  lilies  at  the  Christmastide, 
And  strain  my  eyes  to  catch  their  brightness  too; 
For  charms  of  tint  and  tone  should  win  together. 

But  troubled,  jarring  sounds  break  harshly  in, 
Deep  sobs  of  heart-break  and  accursing  cries. 
Do  crowds  of  mourners  weep  their  early  dead? 


SEA  DRIFT,  151 

Now,  startling  visions  rise  of  countless  forms; 
Stray  voyagers  stumbling  on  the  shores  of  life; 
Coming  through  all  the  ages ;  dropping  down 
From  sea's  far  borders  to  its  lowest  beds ! 
I  see  the  doomed  Armada  from  old  Spain — 
Strong  ships,  men  stained  with  war's  red  blus- 
tering;— 
They  fall  like  crimson  leaves  to  Ocean's  deep 
And  scatter  like  dead  leaves  in  autumn  storm. 
Great  ships  from  plundered  Africa  sink  low 
As    weighted    by   their    crimes;     and    swaying, 

plunge 
Far  down  to  deepest  caverns  darkness  knows — 
Captors  and  captives  huddled  side  by  side. 

Nearer,  more  near,  draw  fearful  tragedies. 
The  great  sea  boiling  like  the  pit  of  hate, 
Engulfing  everything  within  its  power ; 
Its  fairest  shores  by  desolation  swept. 
Rich   scores   of  ships,   ten  times   ten   thousand 

lives, 
Beloved  and  loving,  strong  in  rectitude  ; — 
On  cheerful  journeys  brief,  with  harmless  babes ; 
Outward  bound  for  castles  in  far  Spain  ; 
Homeward  bound,  with  hearts  gone  forward — 

all  ranks 
In  tempest  and  in  calm,   drawn   down,  drawn 

down. 


152  SEA  DRIFT. 

And  smothered  in  the  awful  surge  of  waves ! 
They  come  and  come,  and  not  with  wilHng  feet, 
Like  driftwood  on  the  rushing  stream  of  time; 
But  no  more  go  they  off  from  Ocean's  floor. 


THE  TIDAL  WAVE. 

Yonder  a  monstrous  chain  of  Hfted  waves. 
Vast  heaving  mountains,    grim  and    black    and 

torn. 
With   foothills   flanked;     below   great   yawning 

caves ; 
They  all  move  on  together,  whirlwind  born. 
And  writhe  and  writhe,  but  never  break.     Low 

overhead. 
Sharp    lightnings    waken    thunders    deep    and 

dread. 
That  wall  of  awful  might  outspeeds  the  wind, 
Outspeeds  the  darkness  with  its  shafts  of  light ; 
Glooms  on  beneath  a  sky  windswept  and  bright, 
Leaving  a  wrack  of  angry  clouds  behind. 

As  hosts  of  raging  bitterness  caroused. 
It  roars  in  terror,  sweeping  nigh,  more  nigh 
A  seaside,  sleeping  town,  but  half  aroused ! 
It  reels !    it  plunges  from  a  starlit  sky 
And  in  a  twinkling  all  are  overwhelmed. 


SEA  DRIFT.  153 

A  city's  thousand  dreaming  souls  unrealmed 
In     seething     flood     of     wreckage!      Crashing 

towers, 
The  broken  homes  afloat,  denuded  farms, 
An  upturned  forest  tossing  long,  green  arms — 
Men  grappling  vainly  with  the  awesome  powers ! 


"Is  not  here  bitterness  no  sweet  can  change  ? 
Can  virtues  grand  and  many  whitewash  wrong? 
Noblesse  oblige  should  govern  God's  nobility. 
Shall  not  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right !" 
I  cried. 

My  eyes  were  opened  as  the  sun 
Breaks  through  the  clouds,  flooding  the  world 

with  light. 
I  seemed  to  look  through  vistas  clear  and  wide ; 
Thought  urged,  resistless : — "Who  has  found  the 

heart 
Of  our  own  ever  burning,  blinding  sun  ? — 
Then,  shall  we  challenge  Him  who  swings  aloft 
Those  million,  million  yonder  glorious  suns 
In  climbing  spiral  rounds?    No  human  skill 
Nor   thought   can   wind   again   one    spent   pale 

moonbeam ! 
Weak  plaints  are  but  the  little  carping  chirp 
Of  shrewish  insects  on  a  summer's  day. 


154  SEA  DRIFT, 

Till  we  can  trace  the  farthest  path  of  worlds 
Winding  along  the  open  chart  of  space 
In   full   revealing  glow   of  kindly   light, 
Shall  we  assume  to  fathom  purposes 
Still  sleeping  shadows  in  the  arms  of  night? 
How  dare  we  claim  to  pierce  the  misty  folds 
Of  nascent  time  not  yet  in  swaddling  clothes, 
And  question  Wisdom  that  has  filled  with  light 
The  ever  present  now  that  holds  all  times ! 
Who  spans  the  limitless  with  his  inch  rule? 
If  men  by  honest  men  can  be  misjudged, 
Small  doubt  that  we  may  misinterpret  God, 
Whose  plans  unfold  to  us  in  lines  of  growth. 

"Mankind,  like  bats,  are  blinded  by  a  light 
Too  strong  for  their  unwonted  eyes  to  bear, 
And  careful  folk  may  stumble  in  the  glare 
As  in  the  dark.     Better  Agnostic  rust 
Than  blinded  Will  and  its  poor  dogmatism ! 

"Courage  that  dares  to  seek  the  future's  best 
May  seem  the  present's  worst  and  crudest ; 
For  highest  virtues  oft  are  registered  as  crime. 
Farsightedness,  with  outlook  far  beyond  its  time. 
Must  bare  its  head  to  meet  nearsighted  scorn. 
The  moral  heroes  choose  untimely  good 
Which  leaves  the  noblest  deeds  the  most  con- 
demned. 


SEA  DRIFT.  155 

Till  wiser  thought  has  overtaken  them, 

And  twined  its  laurels  round  their  monuments. 

Patience  is  that  diviner  attribute 

That  waits  the  growth  of  slow  intelligence 

To  win  escape  from  needless  tragedies." 

Upholding  only  Nature's  penalties, 
The  Ocean  needs  no  taunts  and  no  reproach. 
Rash  health,  lawless,  can  lay  its  vigor  down 
In  arms  that  clasp;  shrinking  from  hard  reproof 
No  more  than  pale  disease  worn  thin  with  care, 
Or  pains  that  make  poor  life  intolerable. 
The  youngest  sinless  babe  may  fall  on  sleep 
Beside  old  neighbors  of  the  patriarch  Noah ; 
Weak,  guilty  suicide,  and  murder's  guilt. 
Crowd  heroes  panoplied  in  high  estate 
That  might  have  won  them  nation's  monuments ; 
High  dames,  in  beauty's  prime,    with    jeweled 

robes 
Which    shame    the    noblest    pearls    of    Ocean's 

wealth, 
And  tattered  pariahs  in  their  old  worn  rags, 
Are  welcomed  with  one  equal  majesty. 

How  like  the  helper  of  our  checkered  lives ! 
He  never  chides;  but  piles  his  barrier  high 
With  pains,  and  needless  loss  and  sufferings. 
To  bar  out  greater  ills — more  dire  distress ; 


156  SEA  DRIFT. 

To  hold  crass  ignorance  within  just  bounds, 
Lest  it  more  overreach  sweet  innocence. 

The  Sea  respects  as  God's  high  wisdom  does, 
The  guarded,  prized  integrity  of  each ; 
His  meed  of  freedom  and  his  waiting  choice, 
His  gain  of  offered  knowledge,  manifold. 

To  man  and  beast  and  lowly  creeping  thing, 
To  all  who  breathed  and  breathe  sweet  air  no 

more, 
Ocean  gives  free  and  willing  sepulture, 
And  nudeness  wraps  in  soft  and  flowing  shrouds. 
All  share  alike  the  couch  of  dreamless  rest — 
And    all    must    somewhere    sleep — in    earth    or 

main. 

Ocean  unfolds  the  whole  great  rounded  world, 
His  clasping  arms  encircle,  then,  all  death — 
Fitting,  as  birthplace  of  the  earliest  life. 
Thus  all  the  ages  share  one  final  couch. 
Where,  as  with  God,  a  thousand  years  are  but  a 

day. 
No  earthly  crown  so  mighty  and  august 
As  the  sealed  peace  and  rest  on  every  brow. 
Regal  in  state  their  vast  sarcophagus ! 

Need  any  eye  reverse  the  telescope 
And  only  care  to  see  the  world  made  small? 


SEA  DRIFT.  157 

Folly  will  drag  her  chains  of  ignorance 
Till  she  has  broken  them  and  mastered  ills 
That  hurt  us  needlessly.     But  Nature's  laws 
If  learned,  and  well  obeyed,  bring  only  good. 


The  tonsured  billows  lifted  pleading  hands, 
Then  humbly  dropped  in  meek  obscurity. 

Glad  Ocean  stirred  again  in  joyous  mood, 
Threw  up  long  sprays  of  beauty;  scattered  free 
Clear  Sapphires,  kindled  by  warm  rays  of  light ; 
And  clouds  of  evening,  hanging  high  above, 
Rose-shadows  dropped  on  darker  purple  waves — 
A  lovely  sea  of  reawakened  peace. 
I,  searching  into  knotted  mysteries, 
Heard  mellowed  sound  in  full,  soft  cadences ; 
To  grieving  heart,  unnerved  by  piteous  woes, 
As  comforting  as  songs  among  the  pines. 


KELPIES. 

When  from  clasp  of  ocean  wave. 
You  of  earth  would  kindred  save. 
Dream  no  more  that  dark  revenge 
Kelpies  plot  by  our  stonehenge; 


158  SEA  DRIFT. 

Friendly  arms  around  them  cling, 
Purest  breath  our  clear  waves  bring, 
Nothing  asking  but  their  good; 
Why  is  tender,  loving  kindness  long  misunder- 
stood ? 

Welcome  freely  offer  we. 
Kelpies,  children  of  the  sea; 
Welcome  free  to  treasure  trove 
Over  dropped  from  heights  above ; 
Welcome  to  our  jeweled  strands, 
Richer  than  your  golden  sands; 
Bright  our  wave-washed  amber  home; 
Can  there  be  a  better  world  beneath  the  sky's 
blue  dome? 

Gliding  smoothly  through  the  brine, 
Living  gems,  our  fishes  shine; 
Gay  hued  weeds,  bright  coral  banks. 
Shells  in  costumes,  ranks  on  ranks. 
Color  draped  and  silver  lined. 
Charm  of  rich  wrought  forms  combined! 
Fair  sea  lilies  wide  outfling 
Crimson  fringes,  bright  with  beauty  past  earth's 
blossoming. 

Could  our  welcome  kindlier  be, 
To  these  royal  homes  in  sea  ? 


SEA  DRIFT,  159 

Bliss  and  space !  and  room  for  you ! 
Come  or  stay,  free  choice  is  due. 
Gay  with  Hfe's  sweet  joy  we  rove, 
Shining  raiment,  water  wove, 
Robes  us  all,  awake,  asleep — 
Why  not  share  the  largess  of  our  vibrant,  bound- 
less deep? 

As  we  live  we  pray  you  live, 
All  we  have,  in  kind  we  give; 
In  our  billows  far  and  wide, 
Joys  and  hopes  to  more  divide. 
Like  your  sea  beach,  many  pebbled ; 
Even  eyesight  doubled,  trebled! 
Kelpies  oft  themselves  have  spied. 
In  the  blue-green  clearest  crystal,  smiling  mul- 
tiplied. 


160  SEA  DRIFT. 


XI. 


Everything  has  its  soul. 
Its  wrong  and  its  right ; 

Each  heart  has  its  goal, 
The  stars  cheer  its  night. 

And  its  lessons  unroll 
As  the  dawning  of  light. 


We  recognize  the  high  integrity 
That  dares  uphold  the  smallest  timid  bay 
In  equal  dignity  with  thy  great  wealth, 
Ocean — at  level  height  with  thy  broad  plain ! 
No  feeblest  inlet,  clinging  to  thy  arm. 
No  narrow  strait,  or  tiny  gulf,  may  fall 
Below  the  broad  right  line  upheld  by  thee; 
Nor  sufferest  thou  one  column,  at  thy  side, 
Though  slender  as  a  reed  in  early  spring. 
To  lose  thy  rank  and  sink  to  lower  grade, 
Thy  kindred  born  in  wide  democracy! 
Least  line  of  change  would  make  the  great  earth 

rock 
In  horror ;   turning  from  thy  waywardness. 


SEA  DRIFT.  161 

Why    have    not    human    folk    more    bravely 
learned 
This  greatest  lesson  thou  hast  nobly  taught? 
Why  hold  we  not  in  charity  as  fine, 
The  feeblest  of  our  race,  sin  stained  or  white, 
To  heritage  of  one  humanity, 
With  all  its  glory  full,  alight  and  warm ; 
Up-raising  them  with  kindliest  discipline, 
And  binding  all  in  high  divinity? 

Our  poor  and  thoughtless  deeds  breed  sooty 

mists, 
Dark  writhing  clouds,  that  veil  our  sight, 
Staining  our  best,  and  breeding  nameless  ills. 
We  cramp  our  measures  of  capacity ! 
Too  slowly  grows  the  perfect  wealth  of  life ; 
And   needless   tears   have    swelled   the   ocean's 

deep! 

Better  it  is,  with  things  inanimate. 
Not  wakened  yet  to  active  hope  and  thought. 
To  narrowest  breadth  of  living  consciousness ; 
There,  Nature  weaves  pure  webs  of  excellence — 
If  well  and  generously  interpreted — 
Measure  for  measure,  ever  her  demand ; 
She  works  on  lines  of  order's  perfect  law, 
In  full  beneficence  without  one  flaw. 


162  SEA  DRIFT. 

The  wordless  and  the  boneless  things,  that  feel 
Life's  joys  and  pains,  can  break  no  moral  law ; 
Weak  man,  alone,  still  plucks  forbidden  fruit 
And  gathers  dowers  of  dark,  hard  penalties. 

At  last,  the  keen  and  subtle  eye  of  soul, 
Will  justly  measure  Nature's  good  and  bad ; 
For  mind  is  learning  her  hard  lessons,  too, 
And  claims  them  treasure    more    than    Ophir's 

gold. 
Justice    and    love    brought    face    to    face    in 

thought ; 
Hand  holding  hand,  as  both  have  ever  wrought, 
How  beautiful  and  strong  their  glorious  work ! 
Tliey  learn  to  mend  all  places  frayed  and  weak. 
They  supplement  the  lack  of  each  and  all, 
They  turn  the  charcoal  back  to  diamond  white. 

Oh,  changing,  changeless  Ocean,  great  Unrest ! 
How  weak  the  form  of  man  within  thy  grasp ; 
A  crowing  baby  raised  on  giant's  palm ; 
A  leaf  in  combat  with  a  swelling  flood, 
A  paper  boat,  afloat  in  shrewish  air. 
All  his  proud  ships  are  bubbles  thou  canst  break ; 
Yet  Mind,    man's    mind,    will    master    Ocean's 

pride 
And  conquer  all  the  turmoils  of  wild  seas, 
By  wisdom  calm  as  full-orbed  harvest  moon! 
The  shades  of  night  have  lingered  far  too  long! 


SEA  DRIFT.  163 


IN  THE  DARK. 

Thick    night-clouds    settled    down,   then   weary 
day 
In  sable  hood  her  aged  head  reclined ; 
All    forms — like    morning's    glow — were    swept 
away, 
With  not  a  lingering  hill  or  tree  outlined. 

The  deadly  nightshade  kept  an  open  eye. 

The  poisoned  fungus  rose  and  stretched  apace ; 

All  parasites  would  live,  thc'r  hosts  might  die — 
Rank,  greedy  hunger  stealing  life  and  place. 

The  bats  flapped  by  and  woke  uncanny  things ; 

Poor  giddy    moths    flew    round    and    round, 
insane. 
Eager  to  burn  their  pretty  gauzy  wings 

Should  flame  of  ignis  fatuus  come  again. 

Blind  moles  delved  on  in  secret,  burrowing  ways, 
Earthworms  crawled  up,  black  beetles  hurtled 

by, 

Horned  owls  went  foraging  for  sleeping  prey, 
And  all  the  world  seemed  breathing  with  a 
sigh. 


164  SEA  DRIFT. 

The  sea  was  wrapped  in  horror  deep  and  dense, 
Uncanny  gleams  shot  balefuUy  by  starts, 

ReveaHng  darkness  held  in  dread  suspense 
And  pierced  by  fearful  alien  darts. 


Black  night  may  reign,  a  rayless,  massive  whole. 
All  outlets  closed  to  vistas  fair  and  white ; 

High  barriers  hide  the  way  to  final  goal 

And  faith  stand  beaten  back  by  blinded  sight. 


Hope,  blinded,  may  not  find  life's  Eastern  ray, 
And  starless  Hades  spread  its  waste  of  gloom 

Where  failing  voices,  dreaming,  seem  to  say: 
"The  brooding  darkness  has  no  sunny  room." 

Guilt  seeks  a  taint  in  loveliest  flower  and  leaf, 
Hunts  lines  of  darkness  in  the  purest  light, 

Shades  stillest  day  with  tempest  sad  as  grief; 
It  duplicates  the  black  and  moonless  night. 

Deep  searching — restless  born — like  rings  of 
smoke 

May  dash  straight  on  to  rock,  or  crag,  or  main ; 
Uncover  reefs,  and  nameless  dread  evoke 

Till  farthest  outreach  useless  seems  and  vain. 


SEA  DRIFT.  165 

But  wait ;  Time's  moving  cycle  slowly  rounds, 
Day  follows  night.  All  fair  things  grow  again ; 

New   light  comes   streaming    on    from    farther 
bounds, 
New  truth  is  born  of  unbelief  and  pain. 


In  frigid,  farthest,  dreary  North  and  South, 
Like    wasted     diamonds     heaped    on    pulseless 

breast. 
Ocean,  thy  waves  are  locked  in  moveless  calm. 
Spreading  their  icy  acres  of  white  worlds, 
Supine  and  helpless  as  the  hardest  rocks, 
While    sleet   of   threaded    steel    bites   deep   and 

binds. 
Not  bravest  mother  seals  dare  venture  here 
To  nurse  their  callow  young  in  cairns  of  doom. 
The  softer  ice-banks,  towards  the  warmer  lands, 
Afford  them  rugged  hospitality, 
And  kindly  tvelcome  giving  all  who  need, 
Blush  piteous  crimson  over  fierce  male  wars. 
The  blessed  sunshine,  melting  noontide  dews, 
Washes  the  hideous  shame  to  white  again ; 
And  Nature  smiles  once  more  in  her  relief. 
But  here,  the  seal  of  frozen  time,  deep  set. 
No  sun  has  melted  it  since  first  rose  dawn. 


166  SEA  DRIFT. 


ICEFIELD  LAMENT. 

Not  one  stir  of  life  our  granted  boon, 
Not  a  subtle  wave  of  change  we  feel ; 

Glitter,  cold  as  pearl  on  midnight  moon, 
Folds  us,  holds  us,  with  a  hand  of  steel. 

Buried  now  in  long  night's  darkest  shroud, 
Petrifaction  claims  us  for  his  own ; 

We,  with  priceless  wealth  of  change  endowed, 
Wait  for  weary  ages,  turned  to  stone. 

In  the  warm  and  genial  teeming  seas. 

Where  the  fair  Sea  Islands  bloom  and  smile ; 

Where  the  dark-skinned  people  live  at  ease. 
Storms,  the  too  responsive  seas  beguile. 

Fleets  of  sea-nursed,  floating  birds. 

Brooding  calm  amid  tempestuous  waves; 

Billows  fall  as  by  the  Master's  word : 

"Peace !  be  still !" — outside  the  tempest  raves. 

Then  may  weeping  pity  sometime  break. 
Frozen  chains,  too  frail  for  endless  doom. 

And  our  charmed  world  in  warmth  awake, 
Wrapped  in  generous  beauty's  living  bloom? 


SEA  DRIFT.  167 

Borealis  wavers  in  the  sky, 
And  with  pitying  Heaven  mediates ; 

Startles  echoes  Hke  a  wailing  cry, 
Half  in  mockery,  beckons,  scintillates. 

Wistful  ennui  broods  in  hearts  of  ice, 
Nature's  opiate  holds  each  pulse  in  calm ; 

Lightning,  locked  within  by  her  device, 
Slumbers,  cushioned  on  her  frozen  palm. 

Spirit  bright  of  restless,  eager  steam, 

Shorn  of  use  and  chained  to  moveless  rest, 

Folds  his  reaching  arms  to  nurse  a  dream — 
Nothing  wakes  within  his  frozen  breast. 

Tempest,  biting,  wailing  overhead, 

Heaped  and  hoary  plains  lie  prone  and  still — 
Pallid  substance,  fallen  stark  and  dead, 

Feeling,  numb  alike  to  good  and  ill. 

Something  whispers :  ''Better  days  in  store, 
When  the  soft  winds  warmly,  gently  blow !" 

We  shall  break  the  bonds  of  death  once  more, 
Forth  on  active  service  bound  to  go. 


When  time  is  ripe  to  wake  in  active  hope, 
Does  Nature  plant  the  gift  of  prophecy 
In  deepest  heart  of  all  she  claims  her  own? 


168  SEA  DRIFT. 

Activity  and  human  skill  must  wrest 
These  diamond  strands  of  palsied  helpfulness 
From  weary,  age-long  inutility, 
Winning  rare  treasures  from  these  frigid  zones; 
Mind — thought  and  purpose — learn  to  conquer 

all 
That  is  or  shall  be  of  the  Earth  or  Sea ; 
Glad  feeling,  impulse  gives  to  guiding  thought. 
And  love  will  brighten  all  with  sunny  warmth 
Of  daffodils  ablaze  in  newborn  spring. 

But  Ocean  may  not  do  this  work  alone ; 
That  task  is  ours  and  man's  commission  waits ; 
Mayhap  all  powers  will  yet  co-operate ! 

Be  sure  the  frozen  zones  of  Sea  and  Earth 
Will  melt  in  genial  dews  of  blessedness! 
Greenness  will  overspread  the  barren  wastes, 
And  blossoms  smile  their  wakened  joy  anew; 
Bright  waves  will  lift  again  their  crested  brows, 
And  kneel  again  at  welcome  feet  of  shore 
Laughing  with  lilies  and  exuberance ! 
Nature  herself,  with  man  to  teach  her  how, 
In  time,  will  work  this  gracious  miracle ! 
And  life,  which  seems  most  dead,  will  live  that 

day 
To  celebrate  in  song  its  later  birth, 


i 


SEA  DRIFT.  169 

When  thought  shall   govern   things,   and   dares 

direct. 
The  aeons  pass,  but  each  one  surely  bears 
Supernal  heritage  of  crowning  bliss. 


IN  THE  LIGHT. 

The  morning  star  burned  on  till  rising  day, 
Its  smiling  brightness  softly  swept  away, 
Robed  hilltops  and  gray  clouds  in  red  and  gold, 
And  wide  the  opal  gates  of  dawn  unrolled. 

Song-birds,  on  wing,  pour  melody  like  rain 
Adown  the  sky  and  over  hill  and  plain ; 
A  newborn  greenness  rivals  heavenly  blue. 
And  old  sweet  miracles  are  proven  true. 

Just  waking  blossoms  open  eyes  of  light, 
All  growing  things  look  radiant  with  delight ; 
High  childish  voices  float  off  far  and  wide, 
Grave  older  hearts  rejoice  with  morning  tide. 

The  trees  and  fields,  half  veiled  in  drifting  sheen, 
A  rainbow's  copied  brightness  gems  the  green ; 
The  whole  wide  landscape  and  the  smiling  air 
All  faded  things  make  beautiful  and  fair. 


170  SEA  DRIFT. 

Old  Ocean  blazes ;  glorious  morning  sight ! 
Each  wavelet  'caps  in  music  and  delight; 
And  near  and  far,  farther  than  eye  can  reach, 
The  great  Sea  rings  soft  anthems  clear  as  speech. 

Revealer  Light,  at  dawning,  tries  to  teach 
A  structural  order  with  an  endless  reach ; 
Nor,  plainer  seen  are  plant,  or  flower,  or  bird, 
Than  clear  as  bells  her  living  voice  is  heard. 

Light's  pointing  index  finger  moves  with  time, 
Outlining  golden  paths  in  every  clime, 
Twines  shining  clues  in  every  tangled  maze, 
And   leads   straight   on  through   all   untrodden 
ways. 

To   each,   his   lesson   learned,   seems   wondrous 

clear, 
He  knows  himself  the  teacher,  guide  and  seer; 
In  Nature's  unveiled  face  securely  looks, 
And  reads  her  mysteries  in  open  books. 


Ocean  of  countless  bright  facilities, 
I  hear  in  deepest  bass,  solemn — "Amen," 
As  echoed  from  vast  depths  of  thankfulness 
In  all  the  majesty  of  thy  full  voice. 


i 


SEA  DRIFT.  I'M 

Long  hast  thou  sent  thy  warmest  currents  far 
To  melt  and  mend  the  stubborn  frozen  zones ; 
And  all  thou  couldst  hast  done  with  generous 

zeal 
Of  one  who  has  enough  and  much  to  spare. 

Sustaining  granite  to  the  fruitful  earth, 
How  facik  are  thy  modes  of  helpfulness ! 
Diverse  as  icebergs  and  sweet  flowers  of  June ; 
As  Nature — blind,  or  taught  by  open  eyes 
When  they  have  found  the  keys  of  boundless 

help, 
And  re-create  the  world  on  higher  planes. 
A  truth  once  found  can  rarely  be  forgot ; 
The  great  Earth  fosters  it  as  fruitful  seed. 
And  plants  its  offspring  in  a  thousand  fields ; 
And  all  dull  hindrances  when  taught  to  move, 
Become,    in    turn,    the    whole    world's    motive 

power. 


OUR  HERITAGE. 

The  hurts  we  feel  are  manifold; 

Life  spreads  her  mighty  shadowing  wing 
To  brood  the  storm  clouds,  black  and  cold, 

And  overcast  untimely  spring. 


173  SEA  DRIFT. 

But  life's  great  hopes  are  countless  more; 

Warm  sunshine  overflows  the  clouds ! 
Called  back,  joys  press  through  memory's  door, 

And  shining  stand  in  waiting  crowds. 

As  evening  fades,  so  fades  distress, 
The  good  devours  the  transient  ills; 

Courage,  reborn  in  painful  stress. 
Life's  widt  horizon  stores  and  fills. 

If  all  our  woes  were  multiplied. 
The  thorns  in  every  wound  fourfold, 

The  best  would  triumph  magnified; 

The  mornings  dawn  with  wealth  untold. 

And  they  who  reach  the  sunny  side 
Above  the  clouds — our  promised  land — • 

Will  read  Earth's  tumults — satisfied; 
And  Time's  dark  lessons  understand. 


Catastrophes  breed  quickened  energies. 
And  barrenness  compels  the  cultured  grain ! 
If  frozen  zones  were  not,  could  daring  men 
Court  hardships  in  the  deeps  of  polar  gloom. 
To  ease  the  longing  of  mankind  to  know 
What  seas  and  lands  and  wonders  harbor  there? 
Could  Earth  afford  to  lose  such  hero's  deeds, 


SEA  DRIFT.  173 

Unstained  by  crimson  blush  of  angry  steel  ? 
If  tempests  never  raged,  nor  ships  went  down 
With  freightage  dear  to  human  hearts, 
Prudence  were  shorn  of  strength,  forecast  un- 
born, 
And  learned  seacrift  still  but  dullard  toil — 
Compass  unknown,  high  calculation  dumb. 
And  lore  of  stars  feeble  and  callow-winged. 
Were  sore  disease,  contagion,  wounded  flesh. 
Poor    bones    that    break,    and    nameless    pain 

unfelt, 
The  skill  to  heal  and  help  had  slept  till  now 
Unwakened;    senseless   as   the   sleep   of   stones. 
How  closely  knowledge  waits  on  sharp  desire! 
The  heart's  own  craving  prophesies  success. 

Hard  problems  test  man's  noblest  faculties ; 
And  duty  bids  him  know  and  rule  the  world. 
Wise  Nature's  dark,  inciting  mysteries. 
Her  hidden  secrets,  challenging  our  search. 
Her    teasing    problems,    mocking    till    they're 

solved. 
Spur  on  the  eager  mind  to  delve  and  think. 
And  conquer,  step  by  step,  the  great  unknown. 
Superfluous  ease  ensnares  the  weakling  will; 
Great  obstacles  awake  reactions  great. 
As  fulcrums  help  mankind  to  move  the  world. 
And  give  the  warrant  to  enforce  their  calm. 


174  SEA  DRIFT, 

One  born  with  all  the  wisdom  of  the  world, 
Might  live  in  ennui,  craving  early  death ! 
The  zest  of  industry  is  life's  best  good. 
If  knowledge  might  be  plucked  like  wildwood 

flowers 
And  Nature,  nursed  by  her  decaying  leaves, 
The  Earth  were  still  an  aimless  wilderness. 
Insight  a  blinded  guide,  talents  most  rare 
Lie  folded  still  in  napkins  of  the  past. 

Pain  often  leads  as  harbinger  of  gain ! 
Oysters  encyst  their  hurts  in  sunny  pearls. 
Some  broken  worms   grow  whole   from  every 

piece. 
And  wounded  plants  increase  by  duplicates. 
With  men,  for  wounds  and  hardships  multiplied, 
New  growth  may  germinate  for  head  and  heart ; 
The  clearer  light,  producing  fairer  blooms — 
New  hopes  and  joys,  whose  rootlets  grew  in 

pain. 
So  compensation  crowns  the  strenuous  life! 

THE  OCEAN. 

Great  servitor,  of  endless  vast  beneficence, 
Brother  to  starry  nights'  untold  magnificence, 
Be  loyal  homage  due,  and  grateful  confidence  J 


SEA  DRIFT.  175 

Sweet  humility,  by  lowly  presence  teaching, 
Gracious  charity  to  all  the  world  outreaching, 
Cleanliness  creating,  practising  and  preaching ; 

Circumventing    time,    checkmating    wind    and 

weather, 
Drawing  foreign  lands,  as  nearest  kin,  together. 
Binding    foreign    hearts    by    strong    fraternal 

tether ; 

Present,  ready  helper,  countless  fleets  sustain- 
ing; 

Storm  winds  wildly  rising,  every  muscle  strain- 
ing,— 

Calm  in  tempest,  whispers,  faithlessness  arraign- 
ing. 


176  SEA  DRIFT. 


XII. 


Ocean,  bright  omnipresent  gift  to  Earth, 
Distilled  in  clearest  limpid  purity, 
In  benediction  borne  to  every  home, 
The  crystal  freshness  of  our  childhood's  draught, 
For  which  all  thirst  and  ever  thirst  again, 
To  quaff  again  of  bounteous  supply ; — 
Thou  "greater"  Ocean  of  our  home-nursed  love, 
Fountain  of  joy  to  brutes  and  creeping  things. 
Unbound;  unbounded  thou,  and  measured  not. 
Sweet  lifeblood  flowing  in  the  veins  of  Earth. 

All  waters  claim  thee,  call  thee  ancestor. 
Swelling      thy      unmatched,      world-encircling 

wealth. 
The  rivers  leap  in  sunshine  as  they  run 
In  haste  to  thee,  children  to  father's  arms; 
The  lakes,  thy  weaned  children,  far  from  home, 
Close  copy  thy  great  ways  in  miniature. 
And  serve  the  hills  about  whose  feet  they  kneel ; 
Deep  streamlets  bathe  the  dull,  insensate  veins 
Of  clay,  of  sands,  and  cloven  rugged  rocks. 


SEA  DRIFT.  1T7 

Pouring  rich  floods  of  fruitful  nourishment 

To  quicken  all  who  live  upon  the  earth. 

Thy  springs  leap  high  in  gladness  and  delight, 

Bright,  priceless  offspring  of  parental  gifts. 

Refined  and  vivified  to  worth  untold; 

For  which  the  dying  long  with  failing  breath, 

And    they    who    lack    would    change    all    other 

wealth ; 
For  which  the  famished  waif,  would  give  life's 

bread 
To  its  last  morsel,  glad,  with  eager  choice! 
Cool,  best  refreshment  thou  alone  canst  give. 
Thy  dear  gifts  more  than  golden  stars  at  night. 


What  words  have  I  to  sing  such  comforting? 
The  full  sonorous  chant  of  white  crowned  tides. 
All  generous  throes  that  wake  thy  tender  breast, 
And  beat  in  full,  responsive  sympathy 
With  every  movement  wrought  in  earth  or  skies, 
When  retranslated  into  rural  sounds, 
Gain  borrowed  voices,  softer  than  thine  own, 
Haunting  the  leaves  of  never  silent  trees. 
Caught  up  by  waiting  movement — kin  with  kin — 
Sent    out    to    cheer    waste    deserts    with    moist 

breath 
Of  green  oases,  by  thy  springs  made  glad; 
Mimicked  in  long  drawn  sweetness  by  the  air; 


178  SEA  DRIFT. 

Treasured    in    peaceful,    safe-locked    heart    of 

stones, 
Yet  loosed  in  many  tones  through  all  the  world, 
These  bless    low    cottage    homes    with    endless 

songs, 
And  woo  all  living  things  with  ears  to  hear. 


VOICES. 

One's  heart  endorses 
A  brooklet  choir 

Of  liquid  voices ; 
Each  drop  a  lyre. 

But  breathing  life 
Of  dell  and  hill. 

Is  music  rife — 
Song  never  still. 

A  flower  can  whisper, 
In  tones  so  clear. 

The  bright  robed  lisper 
Fills  eye  and  ear. 

Nothing  is  mute 

To  sound's  pure  thrill, 
Each  leaf,  a  flute 

That's  never  still. 


SEA  DRIFT.  179 

Slow  chanting  catches 

The  gay  winged  throng; 
Each  sea  shell  snatches 

An  endless  song. 

On  young  moon  night, 

Vocal  the  air; 
The  harp  of  light 

Playing — up  there. 

Spider-craft,   spinning, 

Weaving  in  songs; 
Every  note   winning, 

Echo  prolongs. 

Change  never  dulse, 

Joyous  must  ring 
The  low,  rhythmic  pulse 

Of  everything. 


Great  benefactor,  apotheosized 
In  wandering  mist,  water  more  glorified 
And  soaring  heavenward  on  the  wings  of  light ; 
Clear,  soft,  impervious  partner  of  the  air, 
Folding  down  warmth  about  the  sleeping  fields ; 
Thou  movest  in  aspiring  sap  of  trees, 
Clothing  their  rugged  brown  with  silken  grace 


180  SEA  DRIFT. 

Which  waves  to  every  breeze  its  emerald  wealth. 
Up-builder  of  all  sweet-breath'd  blossoming, 
And  brightness  in  the  shyest  floweret's  smile; 
Thou  art  preserver  of  the  fruitful  seeds, 
Freshness  and  bloom  in  all  the  fragrant  fields, 
And  Mercury  of  each  progressive  change. 
Fair  water!    water!    gift  to  all  the  world! 

Sustainer  of  the  swift-winged  life  in  air; 
Of  creeping  plodders  nearest  mother  Earth ; 
Helper  of  quadrupedal  clumsiness 
And  fleeter  footed  dwellers  of  the  wilds; 
Most  bountiful  in  tides  of  human  life, 
Which  leap  in  joyous  flow  from  youth  to  age; 
Support  and  stay  of  every  heart  that  beats. 

Power,  immanent  in  all  our  daily  bread, 
Vitality  in  air  that  fans  our  lungs, 
The  dew  of  life  in  every  breath  we  breathe ; 
Soft  verve  and  r^hancy  of  ears  that  hear, 
And  brightness  in  the  very  eyes  that  see 
Thy  wind-swept  face  in  its  great  majesty; 
Fresh  beauty  in  the  rounded  limbs  of  youth, 
But  oil  and  wine  for  desiccated  age; 
Cushion  and  spur  and  balm  for  weariness ; 
Brightness  and  grace,  enfolding  dry  as  dust; 
Scapegoat  for  all  the  soil  and  stains  we  take — 
All  ages  lean  on  thee,  their  staff  of  life. 


SEA  DRIFT.  181 

Thy  tender  sympathy  should  be  as  deep 
As  mother  love  for  her  own  helpless  babe, 
More  omnipresent  than  sweet  charity, 
Inseparable  as  wedded  North  and  South. 

Enmeshed  in  every  net  the  swift  looms  weave, 
Drawn  out  in  every  pliant  thread  that  serves. 
Folded  in  all  the  seams  and  fringes  wrought, 
In  silken  facings  of  our  meanest  dress ; 
We're  clothed  upon  by  thy  pervasiveness. 
We  move  in  thee,  breathing  thy  humid  breath — 
Like  humbler  kinsfolk  in  thy  denser  flood. 

Our  tribute  then  should  glow  with  warmth  of 
love! 
But  foolish  zeal  is  born  incompetent; 
Its  wings  but  wax  that  melts  with  fervent  heat. 
No  life  could  live  without  fraternity 
Among  both  great  and  small ;  the  mighty  ones 
And  lesser  helpers  working  neighborly, 
In  stress  and  strain  of  common  heritage; 
But  gifts  to  each  are  his  inviolate. 

Hast  thou  one  equal  in  pure  helpfulness? 
Worker  unseen  in  subtle  myriad  ways, 
With  modesty  which  veils  its  noblest  deeds. 
And  hides  behind  the  forms  itself  has  formed. 
As  spirit  clothes  itself  in  grosser  flesh, 


183  SEA  DRIFT. 

The  smallest  child  instinctively  approves 
The  lavish  tempting  gifts  of  milk  and  fruits 
Delicious  only  by  thy  presence  there. 
Kindly  translated  thus  to  household  friend, 
And  generous  helper  of  all  growing  lives, 
Servant  of  servants  thou  hast  always  been. 
Like  Him  of  Nazareth  both  in  life  and  death. 
There  are  no  words  can  voice  our  debt  to  thee. 

Should  feeling  sleep  beneath  a  growing  weight 
Of  such  indebtedness  ?    the  zest  of  life 
Is  glad  emotion,  warm  and  generous, 
And  shared!    outflowing  into  kindred  lives 
In  floods  of  large  fraternal  sympathy. 
And  love  clings  close  to  things  inanimate 
Through  common  bonds  of  wondrous  interest, 
And  helpful  service  given  ungrudgingly. 

Thou  art  near  ancestor  to  all  mankind 
In  every  nerve  and  sinew!    Bone  and  flesh 
To  thee  are  wedded  by  unbreaking  bonds. 
For  thou  hast  always  wrought,  as  heroes  do, 
In  man*s  behalf!    We  owe  thee  gratitude, 
And  more  than  gladly  would  repay  fourfold ! 
Our  tribute  due  should  rise  in  lilting  songs 
As    blithesome    as    the    white    winged    moving 

clouds. 
As  musical  as  running  waters  are; 


SEA  DRIFT.  183 

And  fragrant  as  the  early  morning's  breath 
When  in  the  night    watch    falling    rains    have 

washed 
The  hot  and  dusty  air  to  purest  fair — 
If  doing  would  but  wait  on  fervent  choice ! 

As  thy  bright  waves  reflect  in  scattered  bits 
And  fleeting  pictures,  changing  skies  above, 
We  hold  up  broken  mirrors  of  thy  ways 
Trying  to  frame  the  comprehensive  whole. 
But  like  gives  like.     The  waters  share  thy  voice 
Parceled   in   small;    their   songs   wake   sleeping 
earth. 

THE  RIVULETS. 

"Haste  to  Father !"    sing  the  rills, 
Babbling,  laughing,  with  soft  trills. 
Carving  green  banks  in  bright  doubles, 
Whirling  eddies,  blowing  bubbles; 
Tossing   slender   beads   of   light, 
Carding  wool  to  fleecy  white. 
Plunging  on   with   reckless  dash, 
Into  swirling  river's  clash ; 
"Brother  Great-Stream,  faster!    faster! 
Help  us  down  to  waters  vaster ! 
See!    we  trust  our  all  to  you 
Till  we  bathe  in  Ocean's  blue! 


184  SEA  DRIFT. 

'Willows  weeping,  rillside  bushes, 
Cardinal  flowers  and  blue  eyed  rushes, 
Islands  green  where  streamlets  blend, 
Kine  and  sheep,  each  one  a  friend, 
Evening  concerts  in  the  trees, 
Wooded  hill-slopes,  vales  of  ease. 
Where  we  tumbled  headlong  down 
Into  smiling  steeple  town. 
Where  the  children  laugh  and  play; — 
All  we  love,  we  left  to-day ! 

"Like  the  wandering  winds  we  roam. 
Hurrying  onward   toward   our  home. 
Brother  Great-Stream,  faster !  faster ! 
Help  all  obstacles  to  master; 
Till  we  take  again  our  part 
In  the  great  paternal  heart. 
Tempest  there  or  flowing  calm, 
Wandering  life  give  zest  and  balm; 
Long  the  way  and  long  the  waiting 
Father  love  and  reinstating!" 

THE  RIVERS. 

"Children,  you  have  brought  us  treasure. 
We,  too,  wrought  with  generous  might; 

Now  with  foaming,  brimming  measure, 
On  we  sweep  in  glad  delight! 


SEA  DRIFT.  185 

"From  upbubbling  springs,  from  currents 
Running  dark  beneath  the  rocks; 

Through  the  hills  and  plains  in  torrents 
We'll  come  round  on  time,  like  clocks. 

"We,  too,  slept  in  peaceful  valley, 

Down  the  hillsides  leaped  with  pride. 

On  through  mightiest  plains  and  alleys. 
Great  ships  floating  on  our  tide. 


"Father    Ocean,    we   are    coming. 
Rolling  far  our  wealth  of  floods! 

Like  the  doves  awing,  we're  homing; 
Welcome  give  thy  rustling  broods ! 

"Wide  the  world,  of  wondrous  beauties, 
Arching  sky  is  everywhere. 

Shaming  poor  neglect  of  duties 
Smiling  down  as  on  we  fare. 


"Bright  and  pleasant  banks  forsaking, 
Glad  we  lose  ourselves  in  thee ; 

Joyous  till  our  reawaking — 

Winged  for  blue  sky's  jubilee." 


186  SEA  DRIFT. 


THE  LAKES. 


"Must  we  linger?"    blue  lakes  sing, 

"Shining,  dreaming? 
Moving  winds  new  ripples  bring, 

White  hope  creaming. 

"Rills  and  rivers  roll  towards  Ocean, 

Dancing,   rushing; 
Geysers  all  alive  with  motion,. 

Laugh,  up-gushing. 

"Mighty  cataracts,  down  flashing, 

Movement  plighted. 
Rainbow  crowned  and  cymbals  clashing, 

Wild!    delighted! 

"Seek  in  haste  and  all  unresting, 

Sea's  enfolding; 
'Life  is  motion !'  all  attesting 

Craving,    holding. 

"Clearest  mist-waifs  floating  up, 

Meet   thine,    Father ; 
Small  hands  clasp  in  amber  cup, 

Cloudlets  gather. 


SEA  DRIFT.  187 

"In  the  pure  blue,  on  they  fare, 

Rose  of  dawning; 
Floating,  sailing  high  in  air, 

Breath  of  morning. 

"Briefest  rest  in  dainty  poise — 

Onward  flitting; 
May  we  taste  their  changing  joys. 

Hills  outwitting? 

"Brightest  rain-drops  downward  glide. 

Rounded  beauty ; 
Mid  our  green  hills  must  we  hide. 

Chained   to   duty  ? 

"Onward  flow,  our  streams  shall  know, 

Channel  their  way ; 
Toward  thee,  Father,  proudly  go ; 

Move  on,  we  may !" 


Concordant  songs  thy  many  waters  raise 
In  mingled  tribute  to  their  parent  source ; 
The  swift,  strong  winds  join  in  with  wondrous 

voice, 
Grateful  for  thy  unmeasured  outspread  plains, 
O'er   which   they   sweep   with   wildest   will   un- 

checkedj 


188  SEA  DRIFT. 

To  meet  with  leagues  of  quick  responsiveness. 
No  wonder  envious  moon,  sorely  bereft, 
Should  turn  away  her  face  in  sad  regret 
That  thou  art  lost  to  all  her  barren  shores. 

Great  Ocean's  chant  is  ever  dominant, 
And  silei.t  never.     Moving  fingers  play 
On  myriads  of  vast  responsive  harps — 
Australia,  capes  of  southern  hemispheres, 
Alaska,  Labrador,  Siberia; 
The  wide  and  winding  reach  of  endless  shores ; 
And  every  island  of  the  tuneful  sea 
Re-echoes  ceaselessly  the  vibrant  voice 
That  fills  the  throbbing  air  with  melody ; 
They  blend  in  one  unbroken  whole 
To  greet  the  ear  of  far-off  listening  space. 
When  Ocean's  tones  swell  high,  all  voices  hush 
To  hear  the  one  great  chorus  of  the  world, 
That  upward  sweeps  to  Heaven's  own  gates  in 
praise ! 


SEA  DRIFT.  189 


XIII. 

Transcendent  gift  to  our  responsive  earth 
And  its  enfolding  gkbe  of  atmosphere, 
Which  else  must  clothe  the  world  in  barrenness ; 
Ocean,  we  learned  to  love  thy  clear  and  shining 

face 
Of  beryl,  amethyst,  and  sky's  own  blue 
On    shoreless  mid-seas'  lost    expanse,    blended 

with  sky. 
Essence  concentrate  thine  as  rocky  cliffs 
That  overhang  thee  with  their  beetling  crags 
And  cast  reflections  on  the  crimson  glow 
Of    smiles   as     sweet    as     sunshine's    morning 

smiles — 
Rich  setting  for  rich  real  and  ideal  wealth 
That  nothing  rivals,  nothing  duplicates! — 
Thy  mighty  voices  shake  the  listening  world; 
Yet  thou  dost  raise  free  vapors,  silver  winged, 
Outbound  in  silence  deep  as  flight  of  time — 
Vapors  which  clothe  the  earth  in  humid  warmth 
Of  silken  linings  for  the  too  thin  air, 
Vapors  ethereal  like  the  breath  of  space. 
Yet  barring  Ether's  cold  and  arid  drought — 
Pattern  and  type  of  purest  sinlessness. 


190  SEA  DRIFT. 

Thy  sea-born  roses — morning's  fresh  delight — 
The  golden  lilies  in  thy  clasping  arms, 
Fresh  blossoming  ere  verdant  Nature  wakesi 
And  scatters  spikenard  with  her  clustered  dews; 
Thy  more  prolonged  and  glorious  good  night 
Of  gold  and  rainbows  on  the  darkening  blue, 
Ere  evening  draws  the  curtains  of  her  tents 
To  give  deep  rest  to  all  unseasoned  young; — 
We  love  these  pomps  of  thy  far  spreading  plains. 
Reflex  of  vistas  in  the  skies  above. 

But  love  moves  on  with  thy  ethereal  mists 
Sent  up  in  affluence  of  unbounded  charity — 
Our  love  expanding,  as  they,  too,  expand 
To  fill  the  cisterns  of  the  upper  deep, 
And  overflow  the  fields  of  gladdened  space. 

VAPOR  SONG. 

In  sunny  ambient  air  afloat. 

As  glad  as  sky-lark's  loftiest  note; 

Above  the  faintest  din  of  strife. 

Almost  in  disembodied  life; 

From  clear-eyed  azure  field,  we  raise, 

To  one  Omniscient  Care,  all  praise. 

Our  shining  Earth,  fair  wrapped  in  glow 
Bright  sun  and  moon  by  turns  bestow, 


SEA  DRIFT.  191 

Moves  round  and  on  by  perfect  law; 
And  life  and  gain  unceasing  draw 
Their  stronger  breath,  their  deeper  bliss ; 
For  knowledge  blooms  in  happiness. 

Sky's  broader  outlook — not  then  dreamed — 
Low,  water  level  changes,  seemed 
Purposeless — rhjthr.i  of  flow,  reflow — 
Unmeaning  farce,  and  dull,  and  slow, 
With  neither  good  nor  ill  enwrought. 
Or  by  their  shifting  phases  taught. 

Driven,  we  seemed,  in  endless  ring; 
By  thirsty  fields  lapped  up  in  spring; 
In  autumn,  masked  with  red  and  gold ; 
Made  winter's  glass  by  winter's  cold; 
Or  else,  unnerved  as  gasping  steam. 
Collapsing,  dying — a  lost  dream. 

Now,  hand  held  fast  in  hand,  we  fall 
Ensphered  fresh  rain,  at  Nature's  call. 
Run  spiral  rounds,  which  love  arranges. 
As  help  to  life's  uplifting  changes. 
If  weeping  pageant,  swift  we  come. 
Our  smiles  revive  the  Earth's  green  home! 

In  wide-eyed,  ambient  sky  afloat. 
Joyous  as  sky-lark's  purest  note ; 


192  SEA  DRIFT. 

In  growing  vision  far  and  rife, 
In  almost   disembodied   life, 
From  fields  of  light  and  hope,  we  raise 
To  His  Omniscience  trustful  praise! 


1 


Ocean,  these  waifs  of  time  at  Heaven's  gate, 
When  disembodied  most,  most  free  to  join 
The  strong  co-workers  fitted  to  their  needs; 
Combining  flight  towards  new   and   large   suc- 
cess— 
These  busy  waifs    of    thine    whose    wings    are 

flame. 
When  disembodied  most,  the  most  alert ; 
As  lightning,  when  at  work,  is  naked  flash. 
But  crooked  line,  yet  seething  competence ; — 
When  disembodied  most,  most  near  their  Source, 
His  image  clearest  shown  as  archtype — 
When  disembodied  most,  most  near  to  soul ; 
These  busy  waifs  of  thine,  impalpable. 
Intangible  to  keenest  sight  or  sense. 
Are     they     thy      errant,      work-commissioned 

thoughts. 
Which  do  thy  will  by  recreating  forms. 
And  brightening  earth    with    gardens    of    rare 
bloom  ? 


SEA  DRIFT.  193 

They're  unborn  fiber  of  the  evening  dews, 
Of  pearl  pale  ferns,  wrought  daintily  at  night 
To  die  of  joy  at  early  sunshine's  kiss ; 
Of  white  stern  icebergs,  grown  as  hard  of  heart 
As  mountains  on  the  fruitless  moon;    awesome. 
And  grand  Hke  them,  with  beauties  all  their  own ; 
Of  snows  which  clothe  brown  earth  in  ermine 

soft, 
To  shelter  winsome  things  that  hide  in  fear 
B'eneath  the  soil  encased  in  winter's  rime ; 
Of  rainbows ;    of  the  crystal  hearted  clouds 
Which  pour  their  shining  wealth  on  lands 
That  bud  and  bloom  with  vernal  quickened  life — 
They  have  an  immortality  of  work. 


Immortal!     Yes,   Realities   remain; 
The  softest  moonbeams  write  biographies. 
And  histories  of  wide  and  graphic  power 
That  wiser  men  may  read  some  distant  day. 
Pray,  what    destroys?    Something    or  nothing- 
ness? 
And  what's  destroyed.     A  nought?     Something 

can  hold 
Its  own.     Whatever  was,  forever  is. 
Lut  forms  and  feelings  change  as  cloudlets  do, 
To  make  the  purest  skies  more  beautiful. 


194  SEA  DRIFT. 

Are  Ocean's  crystal  waters;     dear  old  Earth 
With  her  opaqueness  and  her  blinded  sight, 
To  her  least  unit,  dumb  or  locked  in  sleep; 
And  supple  living  flesh  that  clothes  our  life, 
And  quick  indwelling  life,  itself — akin. 
We,  children  all  of  one  high  Fatherhood? 
What  matter  then  if  various  destinies 
Await  us  with  the  onward  march  of  time? 
To  each  and  all  comes  great  and  crowning  good, 
One's  waiting  best ;    and  be  it  sweet  content 
Or  aspiration  never  satisfied. 
His  cup  of  blessedness  shall  overflow! 
One  love  created  all ;    and  all  is  good. 

THEY  AND  WE. 

Vapors  weave  transparencies. 
Clays,  the  world  opaque; 
And  their  many  variancies 
Added  beauty  make. 
Wealth  of  new  creations,  rich  and  rare ; 
And  they've  woven  sea  and  earth  and  air. 

We — the  minds — direct  them 

Towards  the  work  we  choose; 
Never  we  expect  them 
Work  of  ours  refuse; 
Doing  it  is  all  their  very  own ; 
They  work  on  unaided — they,  alone ! 


SEA  DRIFT.  195 

Grateful  for  their  services. 

Proud  of  all  they  do, 
Under   Nature's   auspices, 
They  the  worlds  renew; 
We,  not  really  working,  we  yet  share 
All  the  good  they've  treasured  everywhere. 

Ours  the  guiding  fingers 
Pointing  out  the  way; 
Their  free  service  lingers, 
(Nature  loves  delay,) 
If  we  fail  to  further  highest  needs. 
Or  to   open   paths   where   progress   leads. 

We  are  thought  and  feeling, 

We   are   eyes   that   see; 
If  in  reverence  kneeling. 
Heirs  of  truth  are  we ; 
Needs,  and  aims,  and  hopes,  diverging  far, 
They  and   we  alike,   Thought's   children  are. 


As  orderly  as  stars  in  heaven,  move 
These  mists  invisible,  impalpable, 
Moving  as  to  the  chant  of  seraphim. 
New  places  take  and  build  up  visual  forms; 
Build  solids  deftly  wrought  as  beams  of  sun. 
Swift,  rhythmic  movements,  fitted  each  to  each, 


196  SEA  DRIFT. 


1 


As  measured  waves  in  rays  of  whitest  light, 
Are  interwoven  in  their  beauteous  whole ; 
And,  softly,  from  the  sheer  intangible, 
Rairt  drops  are  born,  the  rainbows  span  the  sky, 
And  pinnacles  of  ice  point  heavenward 
As  clear  and  shining  as  the  sunlight  air. 
The  miracle  of  worlds  is  wrought  anew ; 
From  out  the  formless,  form  is  born  again. 

They,  with  unerring  skill,  make  nice  selections, 
Rejecting  the  unfit,  fit  partners  choose ; 
So  aptly  thrusting  out  impurities 
That  ice,  and  dews,  and  frost,  are  diamond  clear ; 
The  snows,  soft  clustered  groups  of  white  winged 

stars — 
The  smallest  atom  laid  more  skilfully 
Than  ever  mason  fitted  stone  to  stone. 
Or  artist  piece  to  piece,  and  shade  to  shade, 
In  richest,  choice  mosaic,  many  hued. 

Have    these    lost    waifs    of    thine    the    artist 
sense  ? 
The  wisdom  that  exceeds  and  shames  our  best  ? 
Are  they  thy  dainty  messengers  of  love, 
Sent  out  to  do  high  service  far  and  wide  ? 
From  pure  invisible,  to  build  again 
Substance  made  visible?    Potent?    of  right 
To  change  and  uplift  all  of  Matter's  realm? 


SEA  DRIFT.  197 

Spirits  are  they,  thy  thoughts?    that  from  thyself 
Thou  dost,  as  force  and  form,  create  anew, 
To  bid  them  run  their  race  of  service  due? 

And  we,  are  we  God's  thoughts  incarnated? 
Constructed  by  His  plans?    dowered   with   His 

life?— 
Intentions  and  emotions  all  one's  own 
And  each  intact  in  one  identity, 
One  deathless  unit  of  His  universe? 

Nature  herself  holds  out  her  offered  proof 
That  one  Intelligence  surrounds  us  all, 
The   man,    the   beast,    the    stone,   the    senseless 

world — 
And  each  with  nature  of  its  very  own, 
And  waiting  destiny  it  may  achieve. 
We,  too,  of  God,  are  limited  to  act 
Within  the  bounds  to  one  alone  assigned; 
And  fitted  for  our  part  that  we  must  find 
To  duly  execute  with  all  our  might. 


CREATION. 

God  knows  what  yet  will  bei 
As  we  the  things  we  see; 
His  full  eternity. 


198  SEA  DRIFT. 

One  simple,  grand  abiding. 

He  is,  he  ever  is. 

No  waiting  future  his ! 

He  was  and  always  was 
In  moveless  nozv  presiding, 
In  boundless  space  residing. 

All  substance  here  to  stay, 

Each  being  shares  alway, 

Duration's  endless  day. 
Each  self,  like  God,  persistent. 

Life's  curtailed  sentient  glow, 

Has  limits  fashioned  so, 

Onward  its  bound  to  flow; 
Wide  varying  every  instant, 
To  every  check  resistant. 

Motion  is  gainless  change, 

Thoughts  press  from  known  to  strange. 

Feelings  enlarge  the  range 
Of  active  correlation. 

For  us  there's  try  and  try. 

There's  past,  and  by  and  by; 

Bright  colors  fade  and  die. 
Sweet  forms  have  no  duration — 
Life  wins  increased  elation. 

Now — past  and  future  holds; 
All  changes  it  enfolds. 
The  still  unborn  enrolls — 


SEA  DRIFT.  199 

Printed — Time's  overplus. 

Time  measures  loss  and  gain, 

Time  gauges  joy  and  pain, 

Time  works  on  motion's  plain. 
Time,  itself  limited  with  us, 
Finds  helpful  past  and  future  thus. 

Identity  abides ; 

But  progress  onward  rides, 

Plucks  fruit  on  many  sides. 
Its  modes  of  doing  limited; 

To  each,  his  life's  onflow — 

With  Memory  in  tow — 

Yields  gain,  if  fast  or  slow. 
Creation  means: — The  Onward  sped; 
Its  Kingdom  Gain,  by  Structure  led. 


Co-working  with  best  heipers,  justly  gained, 
We  reap  rewards  of  personal  consciousness. 
Experience  won  in  eager,  self- found  life; 
And  memory,  that  holds  and  binds  life's  wealth 
In  starry  galaxy  of  joys  and  hopes — 
Renewed  like  sunshine,  all  conditions  ripe — 
To  each  self-centered,  ever  gaining  mind. 
A  gift  so  great  Love  never  could  recall ! 


200  SEA  DRIFT. 

Best  human  thought,  man's  spirit  born  in  flesh, 
And  with  its  limitations  hedged  about ; 
Weighted  with  higher  might  of  sentient  claims. 
Moves  out  in  active  life  to  change  the  world, 
Remoulding  matter  into  nobler  aims. 
Its  better  methods  slowly  won  by  toil, 
It  fuses  deeds  and  hopes  and  purposes; 
Raising  the  low  to  dignity  and  power, 
The  crude  and  hard  to  fine  and  soft  and  sweet — 
All  untamed  beauty  made  more  beautiful ; 
And  man  immortal !    Work  is  never  done. 
The  joy  of  making  better  grows  supreme. 
Far  more  received  than  one  can  ever  give, 
Mankind  in  blessing,  must  become  thrice  blest. 
Knowledge  improves — as  blindness  never  could, 
As  selfish  isolation  never  would — 
The  wealth  of  all  that  is  to  more  and  best ; 
And  re-endowing  dull  external  forms 
With   guiding  truth,   that   binds   our   world   to 

God's, 
Sees  Earth  all  beautiful — island  of  Heaven. 

THOUGHTS. 

As  lightning's  flash,  we  come; 

As  quick  we  fade; 
But  we  have  found  our  home, 

Our  place  have  made ! 


SEA  DRIFT.  201 

Joyous,  we  oft  revive 

To   help  our  kin; 
And  in  life's  busy  hive 

We  always  win! 

We  are  the  eyes  of  mind, 

Its  telescope; 
The  hidden  things  we  find — 

Outrunning  hope. 

We  are  his  breath,  God  gave 

To  living  things ; 
Their  guard  from  harm  to  save ; 

And  we,  their  wings. 

Each  mind  from  Mind  marked  off, 

Wins  on  its  way ; 
Its  course,  or  smooth,  or  rough. 

We  are  its  day. 

To  us  emotions   cling 

As  leaves  to  vine; 
All  varied  feelings  ring 

As  thoughts  incline. 

Man's   helper    from   his   birth, 

Afar  or  nigh, 
We  recreate   the  earth. 

And  search  the  slcy. 


r 


SEA  DRIFT. 


1 


The  high,  endowing,  primal  Life  and  Light, 
/       EstabHshes  a  perfect  widest  reach 

Of  equity  and  justly  balanced  claims; 
It  clings  supreme  to  every  subtle  force 
As  East  forever  clings  to  equal  West, 
As  gravitation  claims  its  double  pull — 
Open,  transparent,  code  of  light,  of  hope; 
To  Ocean,  in  its  shifting  thousand  forms. 
To  every  atom  weaving  form  in  space, 
To  men  impulsive  in  all  various  deeds. 

Not  shoved  aside  by  our  perversity 
Of  greed,  which  plucks  its  own  sharp  penalties, 
God  rights  all  shallow,  weak  disturbances 
Which  we,  in  grasping  blindness,  put  in  swing; 
He  is  our  life's  Sustainer !    His  the  breath, 
In  us  remade  and  ours — the  Always  Here. 

Wisdom  and  love  supreme,  the  primal  All — 
Vitality — innate,  unlimited — 
Is  Force  at  work  in  vapor's  weaving  mist. 
In  raindrop's  fall,  in  Ocean's  plenitude, 
In  schemes  that  bind  bright  waters'  widest  scope. 
In  sentient  purpose,  urging  flight  of  worlds ; 
In  earliest,  briefest  feeling,  deepest  thought, 
The  changeless  immanence  in  every  change 
Of  finite  waking  and  aspiring  mind; 
In  all  rich  wealth  of  shared  activities ; 


SEA  DRIFT.  203 

The  Love  of  human  love ;  its  only  source  ; 
Fountain  of  all  that's  good  and  beautiful ; 
Of  truth  and  its  high  fruitage  manifold, — 
Our  God  who  in  His  bosom  bears  the  universe. 


From  His  persisting,  fructifying  Thought, 
Outborne  as  potent  high  executive, 
We  gain  the  unborn  fiber  of  all  worlds, 
And  forming  warp  and  woof  of  sentient  life. 


So  all  we  make,  and  all  that  Nature  makes, 
Began  without  beginning;    but  remade 
By  Life  and  Mind  eternal,  absolute — 
His  living  looms  weaving  their  webs  in  Time 
On  guiding  lines  wrought  out  within  themselves. 


So    grow — in     wider     scope — as     grow     the 

flowers, 
The  glorious  stars,  and  sun,  and  fruitful  earth ; 
All  worlds,  and  all  their  warmth  and  wealth  of 

forms 
And    substance;    and    conscious    finite   life, 
With  endless  gain — the  flesh  of  Spirit  born, 
And  spirit,  born  of  Spirit  infinite, 
Creation  evermore  continuing. 


204  SEA  DRIFT, 


THE  OUTLOOK. 

Aglow  with  Life's  enfolding  sun, 
Interpreted  by  one  sustaining  law, 
All  paradox  unfolds  without  a  flaw; 

The  seen  and  unseen  worlds  are  one. 

The  harmonies  of  truth  give  dole. 
Insight  is  clearer  than  the  keenest  sight, 
Its  vision  deeper  than  the  debts  of  light — 

Attuned  to  Nature's  whole. 

Conviction   crowns   the  sanguine  hope, 
Reveals  intelligence,  the  living  One; 
Mankind  its  threads,  in  vivid  life  outspun; 

None  need  in  lingering  shadows  grope. 


THE  END. 


MAR  26  1903 


Wf^ii, 


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