Richer am I than he who owns I freight them with my untold dreams; My ships that sail into the east Sometimes they seem like living shapes, Guests in white raiment, coming down From heaven, which is close by: I call them by familiar names, From violet mists they bloom! Are half reclaimed from gloom, Since on Life's hospitable sea All souls find sailing-room. The ocean grows a weariness Its east and west, its north and south, A STRIP OF BLUE. A part is greater than the whole; God's sweeping garment-fold, In that bright shred of glimmering sea, The sails, like flakes of roseate pearl, The waves are broken precious stones,- Washed from celestial basement walls, Out through the utmost gates of space, Yet loses not her anchorage In yonder azure rift. Here sit I as a little child : The threshold of God's door Is that clear band of chrysoprase : The universe, O God! is home, Glad when is opened to my need ΙΟΙ Lucy Larcom. LAND-LOCKED. OLACK lie the hills, swiftly doth daylight flee, BLACK And catching gleams of sunset's dying smile, Through the dusk land for many a changing mile The river runneth softly to the sea. O happy river, could I follow thee! O yearning heart, that never can be still! Have patience,―here are flowers and songs of birds, Neither am I ungrateful :-but I dream To feel the wind sea-scented on my cheek, O Earth! thy summer song of joy may soar Celia Thaxter. O YE KEEN BREEZES! 103 O O YE KEEN BREEZES! YE keen breezes from the salt Atlantic, Which to the beach, where memory loves to On your strong pinions waft reviving coolness, For, in the surf ye scattered to the sunshine Then to the meadows beautiful and fragrant, There under elm-trees affluent in foliage, High o'er whose summit hovered the sea-eagle, Through the hot, glaring noontide have we rested After our gambols. Vainly the sailor called you from your slumber : Like a glazed pavement shone the level ocean; While, with the snow-white canvas idly drooping, Stood the tall vessels. And when, at length, exulting ye awakened, Playmates, old playmates, hear my invocation! Ceaselessly mingle. When shall I feel your breath upon my forehead? When shall I hear you in the elm-trees' branches? When shall we wrestle in the briny surges, Friends of my boyhood? Epes Sargent. "THE EAGER SUN COMES GLADLY FROM T THE SEA." HE eager sun comes gladly from the sea; He rose from unknown worlds of light below Are strangely far apart to-day; and so The saddened sun with lingering step and slow |