Beside the Sea.
They lingered ’near the spreading thorn ;1
The snow-white blooms fell on her hair ;2
Athwart his face the sunbeans lay ;3
And love was young, and life was fair.4
‘ Only one little year,’ they said,5
Then parted at her cottage-door—6
He sailing westward with the tide, 7
She, happy, waiting by the shore. 8
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Two long, long years ! Time slowly drags9
When Hope is gone for evermore ;10
The days seem weeks, the months seem years—11
And still she watches by the shore.12
The seaweeds cluster, red and gold,13
And shells amid their tangles gleam ;14
And bygone days are but to her15
As fading memories of a dream.16
’Tis evening, and the glowing sun17
Stoops down to kiss the purple sea ;18
The foamy waves, like wind-blown clouds, 19
Break on the rocks unceasingly.20
Slowly the gray mist creeps adown21
The darkening hillsides by the bay ;22
Song-birds are hushed, night-stars appear, 23
And daylight dimly steals away.24
In bitterest agony she moans—25
For words will come though hearts may break :26
‘ O dreamy wind, O sad, sad sea,27
Lull me to sleep, nor let me wake !’28
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Ah, was it Fate that brought the storm29
That night, and wrecked the ‘ homeward-bound ’ ?30
While in the gray dawn, met at last, 31
The lovers side by side were found.32
Ay, met at last, but cold in death,33
The salt sea dripping from his hair ;34
And she—That upturned face can tell35
How heaven had heard her weary prayer.36