But the laughing moon looks downward, And she speaks, for she doth know it: "Yes, he is both fool and lover, And, to cap it all, a poet!"

III.

Behold! 'tis a foam-white sea-mew That flutters there on high.

Far over the black night-waters The moon hangs up in the sky.

The shark and the roach dart forward For breath as the breeze floats by.

The sea-mew poises and plunges, The moon hangs up in the sky.

Oh, lovely transient spirit, How heavy of heart am I!

Too near to thee is the water, The moon hangs up in the sky.

IV.

In moonlit splendor rests the sea, The soft waves ripple along.

My heart beats low and heavily, I think of the ancient song.

The ancient song that quaintly sings Towns lost in olden times; And how from the sea's abyss there rings The sound of prayers and chimes.

But pious prayers and chimes, I ween, Are offered all in vain.

For that which once hath buried been May never come back again.

V.

I knew that thou must love me-- 'Twas long ago made clear.

But thy confession filled me With deep and secret fear.

I clambered up the mountain, And sang aloud for glee.

Then while the sun was setting, I wept beside the sea.

My heart is like the sun, dear, Yon kindled flame above; And sinks in large-orbed beauty Within a sea of love.

VI.

How enviously the sea-mew Looks after us, my dear; Because upon thy lips then So close I pressed mine ear.

He fain would know what issued, Most curious of birds!

If thou mine ear fulfillest With kisses or with words.

What through my spirit hisses?

I, too, am sore perplexed!

Thy words, dear, and thy kisses Are strangely intermixed.

VII.

Shy as a fawn she pa.s.sed me by; And, fleet as any heifer, She clambered on from cliff to cliff, Her hair flew with the zephyr.

Where to the sea's edge slope the rocks, I reached her, trembling near it.

Then, softly with the softest words, I melted her proud spirit.

There we two sat as high as heaven, And heaven's own rapture drinking.

While in the dark waves far below; The gradual sun was sinking.

Below us in the deep, dark sea, The fair sun dropped; then dashing, The waves broke wildly over him, With turbulence of pa.s.sion.

Oh do not weep! he is not dead, 'Neath billows swelling higher; He has but hidden in my heart, With all his burning fire.

VIII.

Come, let us build upon this rock, The Church of G.o.d's last lover, The third New Testament's revealed, The agony is over.

Refuted is the second book That fooled us through long ages.

The stupid torture of the flesh Is not for modern sages.

Hear'st thou the Lord in the dark sea, With thousand voices speaking?

See'st thou o'erhead the thousand lights Of G.o.d's own glory breaking?

The holy G.o.d dwells in the light, As in the dark abysses.

For G.o.d is everything that is: His breath is in our kisses.

IX.

Gray night broods above the ocean, Little stars gleam sparkling o'er us.

And the waters' many voices Chant in deep, protracted chorus.

Hark! the old northwind is playing On the polished waves of ocean, That, like tubes of some great organ, Thrill and stir with sounding motion.

Partly pagan, partly sacred, Rise these melodies upswelling Pa.s.sionately to the heavens, Where the joyous stars are dwelling.

And the stars wax large and larger, In bright mazes they are driven, Large as suns at last revolving, Through the s.p.a.ces of vast heaven.

And weird harmonies they warble With the billows' music blending.

Solar nightingales, they circle Through the spheres strange concord sending.

And with mighty roar and trembling, Sky and ocean both are ringing; And a giant's stormy rapture Feel I in my bosom springing.

X.

Shadow-love and shadow-kisses, Life of shadows, wondrous strange!

Shall all hours be sweet as this is, Silly darling, safe from change?