 | Orchids |  |
48
SWIMMING SONG
The broad green rollers lift and glide
Beneath our hearts as, side by side,
We breast them blithely, blithely swim
Toward the far horizon's rim.
Beneath our hearts as, side by side,
We breast them blithely, blithely swim
Toward the far horizon's rim.
The murmur of the land recedes,
The land of grief that aches and needs;
We only as we fall and rise
Drink deep the splendour of the skies.
The land of grief that aches and needs;
We only as we fall and rise
Drink deep the splendour of the skies.
O far blue heaven above our head,
O near green sea about us spread,
What joy so full, since time began,
Could earth, our mother, give to man?
O near green sea about us spread,
What joy so full, since time began,
Could earth, our mother, give to man?
Your bright face through the water peers
And laughs. “What need have men for tears?”
We say. The land is far and dim,
The world is Summer's, and we swim.
And laughs. “What need have men for tears?”
We say. The land is far and dim,
The world is Summer's, and we swim.
Your bright face peers and laughs. The sweet
Same joy fulfils us, hands and feet:
The same sea's salt wet lips kiss ours:
We feel the same enraptured hours.
Same joy fulfils us, hands and feet:
The same sea's salt wet lips kiss ours:
We feel the same enraptured hours.
Out yonder! where our distant home,
Beckons us from the crests of foam!
Out yonder through the roller's mirth!
What part was ever ours with earth?
Beckons us from the crests of foam!
Out yonder through the roller's mirth!
What part was ever ours with earth?
Your white limbs flash, your red lips gleam:
Love seems life's best and holiest dream;
Nought comes between us here, and I
Could wish not otherwise to die.
Love seems life's best and holiest dream;
Nought comes between us here, and I
Could wish not otherwise to die.
49
With sea beneath us, heaven above,
Life holds but laughter, joy and love;
No trammels bind us now, and we
Are freer than the birds are free.
Life holds but laughter, joy and love;
No trammels bind us now, and we
Are freer than the birds are free.
Your face seems sweeter here, your hair,
Wet from the sea's salt lips, more fair,
Your limbs that move and gleam and shine,
Hellenic, pagan, half-divine.
Wet from the sea's salt lips, more fair,
Your limbs that move and gleam and shine,
Hellenic, pagan, half-divine.
If I should catch you now, make fast
Your hands with mine, about you cast
My limbs, and through the untroubled waves
Draw you down to the sea's deep graves!
Your hands with mine, about you cast
My limbs, and through the untroubled waves
Draw you down to the sea's deep graves!
Ah, sweet! God's gift is good enough,
God's gift of freedom, life and love—
Though but for this brief hour are we
Alone upon the eternal sea!
God's gift of freedom, life and love—
Though but for this brief hour are we
Alone upon the eternal sea!
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