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78
THE SIREN
“My voice is sweeter than the lute,
My form is passing fair,
My lips are like the scarlet fruit
The coral branches bear.
My form is passing fair,
My lips are like the scarlet fruit
The coral branches bear.
“My teeth are whiter than the pearls
Men seek beneath the brine,
And when I shake my dripping curls
Far brighter jewels shine;
Men seek beneath the brine,
And when I shake my dripping curls
Far brighter jewels shine;
“My russet curls, whose golden tips
Half hide a breast that swells
As pink and pearly as the lips
That laugh on spike-back'd shells;
Half hide a breast that swells
As pink and pearly as the lips
That laugh on spike-back'd shells;
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“My eyes reflect the glimmer cast
When seas lie calm and deep,
Where, under rotting spar and mast,
The silent sailors sleep.
When seas lie calm and deep,
Where, under rotting spar and mast,
The silent sailors sleep.
“Oft have I dragged them from the sands,—
They cannot make demur,—
And pull'd the gold rings from their hands:
They neither speak nor stir,
They cannot make demur,—
And pull'd the gold rings from their hands:
They neither speak nor stir,
“So stark they lie! Yet one, alone,
Awoke to find me fair,—
(This harp is made of his breast-bone,
Its strings were once his hair!)
Awoke to find me fair,—
(This harp is made of his breast-bone,
Its strings were once his hair!)
“A merry moon we pass'd, and more,
And then upon him came
Some wanton mem'ry of the shore,
He breathed a woman's name;
And then upon him came
Some wanton mem'ry of the shore,
He breathed a woman's name;
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“Wherefore I made him sleep again,
So sound, he could not stir;
But first I suck'd his heart and brain,
Lest he should dream of her.
So sound, he could not stir;
But first I suck'd his heart and brain,
Lest he should dream of her.
“Before he slept he spake strange words;
These were the words he said:
‘Your song is blither than the birds’,
Your lips are ripe and red,
These were the words he said:
‘Your song is blither than the birds’,
Your lips are ripe and red,
“‘Your breast is white, your eyes are blue,
Yet you cannot understand,
Or love your love as the maidens do
That live upon the land.’
Yet you cannot understand,
Or love your love as the maidens do
That live upon the land.’
“So, since, whene'er the sun is low,
And length'ning shadows fall,
And straying lovers come and go
Along the grey sea-wall,
And length'ning shadows fall,
And straying lovers come and go
Along the grey sea-wall,
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“Amongst the rocks I crouch me down
To hear what they may say,
And learn this thing I have not known—
To love the land-girls' way!
To hear what they may say,
And learn this thing I have not known—
To love the land-girls' way!
“But oft I hear them moan and sigh,
And often weep for woe;
The summer nights are going by,
Yet this is all I know!
And often weep for woe;
The summer nights are going by,
Yet this is all I know!
“So, mine must be the wiser way,
For all my sweetheart said!
I made far merrier than they
The moon that I was wed!
For all my sweetheart said!
I made far merrier than they
The moon that I was wed!
“And he was mine,—my very own!
I clasp'd him firm and fair! . . .
(This harp is made of his breast-bone,
Its strings were once his hair!)”
I clasp'd him firm and fair! . . .
(This harp is made of his breast-bone,
Its strings were once his hair!)”
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