A Message to the Sea

Rise up, my song, and plume thy wings for flight?
For I will have thee fly to a far place,
Sad with the joy of unreturning days;
There, evermore, 'twixt storm-scarred height and height,
Calm sighs the sea or thunders in its might, —
Go down unto those whirling water-ways
And where the winds the fiercest tumult raise,
And waves upon the loudest reefs are white, —

Cry out, O song, to all the sea and say:
"Lo! even he who sent me bade me pray
That thou once more beloved of him wouldst be.
And comfort him again, in the old way;
That from this new love thou his heart wouldst free,
Wash clean his soul, and be again the Sea."