Poems (Acton)/The Song of the Sea-birds

THE SONG OF THE SEA-BIRDS. ——

Over the stilly waters,
 Over the changing sea,
Where mortal hath never sought us,
 Our sunny path shall be.

Long may the op'ning flowers,
 That blossom o'er hill and plain,
Bloom on in their summer bowers
 Ere we return again,

We will glance o'er the sparkling billow,
 We will ride on the storm-clouds dark;
Ere the mariner seeks his pillow,
 We will look on his gallant bark.

Over the lofty mountain,
 Over the forest lone,
By the side of the gushing fountain,
 We will go, ere the day be done.

Away! to the troubled ocean,
 Where the echoes of thunder roll;
Where the waves, in their wild emotion,
 Bring death to the shipwreck'd soul:

Where the foam of the tempest dashes
 O'er the lost, in their lone despair;
And the glare of the lightning flashes—
 Let our trackless path be there.

Then on! to the gliding river,
 And over the waving trees;
Where the leaves and the blossoms quiver,
 To the sigh of the ev'ning breeze.

When the bell for the vesper pealing,
 Is heard by the waters clear:
And the sound of the night-wind stealing,
 Comes over the list'ning ear.

Away! ere the daylight closes,
 Ere rises the evening star;
Ere the sunset hath tinged the roses.
 Away! to our homes afar!

Away! over hall and tower;
 Away! over hill and tree:
Away! over leaf and flower,
 To our home, by the changing sea.

And many of earth's proud mortals,
 When they look on our passage bright
To the verge of the sky's blue portals,
 May envy the Sea-bird's flight.
H. A.