So brief, so soft, and so full the rapture

Was felt that soothed me with sense of home.

To sleep, to swim, and to dream, for ever—

Such joy the vision of man saw never;

For here too soon will a dark day sever

The sea-bird's wing from the sea-wave's foam.

A dream, and more than a dream, and dimmer

At once and brighter than dreams that flee,

The moment's joy of the seaward swimmer

Abides, remembered as truth may be.

Not all the joy and not all the glory

Must fade as leaves when the woods wax hoary;

For there the downs and the sea-banks glimmer,

And here to south of them swells the sea.

[Pg 164]

[Pg 164]

GRACE DARLING

Take, O star of all our seas, from not an alien hand,

Homage paid of song bowed down before thy glory's face,

Thou the living light of all our lovely stormy strand,

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