SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE
Alas' (thought I, and my heart beat loud) How fast she nears and nears' Are those her sails that glance in the Sun, Like restless gossameres?
��And its ribs are been as bars on the face of the sotting Sun The Spectre- W oman and her Denth-mate, and no other, on board the skeleton ship Like vessel, like crew '
��Death and Lift-in-Death have dictd for the ship'i crew, and she (the httcr) winneth the ancient Manner
No twilight within the courts of the Sun
��Are those her ribs through which the Sun Did peer, as through a grate? And is that Woman all her crew Is that a Death ? and are there two ? Is Death that Woman's mate ?
Her lips were red, her looks were free, Her locks were yellow as gold* Her skin was as white as leprosy, The Nightmare Life-in-Death was she, Who thicks man's blood with cold.
The naked hulk alongside came,
And the twain were casting dice;
"The game is done' I've won' I've won!**
Quoth she, and whistles thrice.
The Sun's rim dips; the stars rush out: At one stride comes the dark; With far-heard whisper, o'er the sea, Off shot the spectre-bark.
We listen'd and look'd sideways up!
Fear at my heart, as at a cup,
My life-blood seem'd to sip'
The stars were dim, and thick the night,
The steersman's face by his lamp gleam'd white ;
From the sails the dew did drip
�� �
