Showed warm and brown in purest harmony.

The fierce bright flame that is the tropic sea

Burned on their eyes and called them to its heart.

Like eager sea birds they forgot the land,

And, happy as the amorous waves, they gave

Their slim brown bodies to the sea's embrace.

They found them driftwood and astride they leapt

The feathered breakers, one with daring skill

7

Curved her sweet length to lie within the palm

Of a strong wave, and so was brought to shore.

"Taka," they cried, "has beaten us;" and all,

Shaking the bright drops from their shining hair,

With laugh and song sprang to the beach again,

Sunning themselves to languor ere they made

Their pretty toilet.

Some had gathered flowers

In fragrant wreaths, and others brought the grave

Work of the morning. Yet because the wine—

Sun of the South—gilds even toil, it seemed

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