Wild Love on the Sea

"O SING to me, sing to me, foam of the
Sea,
Sing, while we sail, to my darling and me,
While we heel to the wind, the foam flies from the bow.
My love laughs, we were never so happy as now !

" We rush through the water, we scatter the spray.
The foam-bubbles leap in the blue light away.
My sails are less white than your bosom or hand,
We will sail on for ever afar from the land.

" O dotards may mumble their winterly talk.
But the young joy of living their age may not baulk.
We shall soon be beyond their bleak Northerly
Clime,
Who fain would persuade us that love is a crime.

' Never fear, never fear, nestle closer to me,
O we joy to bound over wild waves and be free !
For our bridal sing, winds! and, blithe billows, your song
Breathe into your clarion loudly and long !

"Winds whistle, and fill the full-bellying sail;
Yea, what if they rise, and blow shrill to a gale?
My boat is a rare one, she swims like a bird—
Ha! what if the roar on the reefs may be heard ?
"You're the loveliest lady that ever was known ;
My rival I slew, and the bride is my own ;
Warm bosom to bosom, hot mouth unto mouth,
We are flying to lovelier lands of the
South. ..."

" Nay, the sky's growing darker, I fain would return "
" Your doubts are too late, love, your scruple
I spurn ; "
" I fear thee, I fear thee, fierce lover of mine;
Thy lips are the wild wave, thy breasts are the brine !"

" Ho ! with storm to the windward, and breakers to lee.
They go swimming with Death, who go sailing with me ! "