The Sea Singer / Alfred Perceval Graves

The Sea Singer


THE HEAVEN was star-strewn Above the new moon; Before a faint breeze we were floating; When out of the distance, still clearer and clearer And nearer and nearer there sighed And there cried A strange, lonesome song o’er the tide. We stood still and grave To watch a far wave, That gathered and gathered toward us; Till laughing aboard us there leaped from the billow With locks long and yellow—a Maid— The Sea Maid, Whose song on our heart-strings had played. Sweet pain, pleasure sharp, She poured from her harp; Around her we listened in wonder, The wave warbled under, the stars in heaven’s hollow They all seemed to follow her song, Her lone song, As idly we fleeted along. To leave us she turned; Then rashly we burned To keep her bright beauty before us. But when to enring her we strove, the Sea Singer She wove her white finger around And around, And left us all standing spell-bound.