University of Virginia Library

A DIRTY NIGHT.

“A Dirty Night” the coastguard said!
I leaned into the dark
And stabbed the shadows with quick looks
Too fond to be afraid,
That read the farthest flickering spark
As written broad in books.
Where was my child, my sailor boy,
My light, my life, my only joy,
Who early sailed that morning
My dread of danger scorning,
As if the ocean were his toy,
In all his young adorning?
His kiss was tingling on my brow—
I feel it now,
Though fifty empty years have past
Nor brought at last
Beneath the blue or clouded dome
My darling home.
It was a dreadful night, the surf
Drove inland far on tree and turf,
And scared the seabirds flew
All draggled shoreward
As I gazed nor'ward,
The blast so fiercely blew;
With slant wings rumpled
And feathers crumpled,
As higher still it grew.
A horror from the break of day
Upon me like the sunset lay,
And as I leaned into the night
Which my great famished love made bright,
I would the billows
Were my pillows
To bear me to my heart's delight.
The hungry waves
Seemed rolling graves
Heaped high above the myriads fled,
Who voyaged forth nor dreamed of wrack
But never to their own came back,
And now were numbered with the dead.
And where was he
So dear to me,
Who gaily sallied out to roam
Upon the cruel climbing foam,
As bold and bright
As morning's light
Athwart his yellow native loam?
I saw no sign
But gloom malign
On the horizon and the sea,
My breast was numb,
And heaven seemed dumb
To my heart-broken voiceless plea.
I gave the passing coastguard hail
And told him of the lingering sail
That soon must bring my darling back;
He turned a troubled eye on me,
And slewing slowly on his track,
“It is a dirty night,” said he.