And breathless hearts with one bright sound fulfilled.

Or at midnoon to me

Swimming, and birds about my happier head

Skimming, one smooth soft way by water and air,

To these my bright born brethren and to me

Hath not the clear wind borne or seemed to bear

A song wherein all earth and heaven and sea

Were molten in one music made of thee

To enforce us, O our sister of the shore,

Look once in heart back landward and adore?

For songless were we sea-mews, yet had we

More joy than all things joyful of thee—more,

Haply, than all things happiest; nay, save thee,

In thy strong rapture of imperious joy

Too high for heart of sea-borne bird or boy,

What living things were happiest if not we?

But knowing not love nor change nor wrath nor wrong,

No more we knew of song.

Song, and the secrets of it, and their might,

What blessings curse it and what curses bless,

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