 | The White Pilgrim and Other Poems |  |
152
VENETIAN BOAT-SONG.
The boatmen are calling,
“Stalì—stalì!”
The glory is falling
On me—on me!
The sunlight is shaking
The bay—the bay!
Then up and be waking;
“Già è—già è!”
“Stalì—stalì!”
The glory is falling
On me—on me!
The sunlight is shaking
The bay—the bay!
Then up and be waking;
“Già è—già è!”
In Venice the golden,
To dream—to dream,
With love-stories olden,
For theme—for theme!
The blue sky above her
Fair sea—fair sea,
Laughs light on the lover;
“Stalì—stalì!”
To dream—to dream,
With love-stories olden,
For theme—for theme!
The blue sky above her
Fair sea—fair sea,
Laughs light on the lover;
“Stalì—stalì!”
153
The waves are her highways,
So deep—so deep!
The waters her byways,
Asleep—asleep!
No stir in the air is,
No sound—no sound,
Save footsteps of fairies,
Around—around!
So deep—so deep!
The waters her byways,
Asleep—asleep!
No stir in the air is,
No sound—no sound,
Save footsteps of fairies,
Around—around!
The clouds of the hazy
Forenoon—forenoon,
Sleep over the lazy
Lagoon—lagoon!
About us a glamour
Doth move—doth move,
The sense to enamour
Of love—of love!
Forenoon—forenoon,
Sleep over the lazy
Lagoon—lagoon!
About us a glamour
Doth move—doth move,
The sense to enamour
Of love—of love!
The Doges are perished,
And gone—and gone;
The sea-bride they cherished,
Laughs on—laughs on!
We pass through Death's portal,
As they—as they;
Like her, Love's immortal!
“Già è—già è!”
And gone—and gone;
The sea-bride they cherished,
Laughs on—laughs on!
We pass through Death's portal,
As they—as they;
Like her, Love's immortal!
“Già è—già è!”
The pride of the nations,
“Stalì—stalì!”
That hath for foundations
The sea—the sea,
Was made for a home, dear,
For you—for you;
Then why should we roam, dear,
We two—we two?
“Stalì—stalì!”
That hath for foundations
The sea—the sea,
154
For you—for you;
Then why should we roam, dear,
We two—we two?
| The White Pilgrim and Other Poems | |