University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Sonnets Round the Coast

by H. D. Rawnsley
  

expand section 
expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
collapse sectionV. 
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
 XV. 
 XVI. 
 XVII. 
 XVIII. 
 XIX. 
 XX. 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 XXIII. 
 XXIV. 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 XXVII. 
 XXVIII. 
 XXIX. 
 XXX. 
 XXXI. 
 XII. 
 XXXIII. 
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. THE GLADNESS OF THE SEA.
expand sectionVI. 
expand sectionVII. 
expand sectionVIII. 


110

XXXIV. THE GLADNESS OF THE SEA.

League after league of sunshine, and a face
As changeful as a lover's, in what love
The sea for tryst comes dancing up the cove;
How light of heart, with what excess of grace,
Does wave on wave its brother shoreward race!
Thrice happy ocean, where thy waters move
Is health, and life, and hope for keels that rove,
Thou bearest home brave ships in thine embrace.
Thou seem'st to hold thy breath, then, laughing, roll
Up the long beach in roar of merriment,
And while the dolphins sport in happy shoal
Far seaward, and glad cries of children sent
Ring from the shore, thy tide has touched my soul,
And I am glad with thy deep-drawn content.