The Stormy Petrel

Fair hero, brave hero of sea--
The sea in its darkness of wrath!
I run down the breaker with thee,
I mount the next in its path.

Our hearts beat together, charmed one,
Lift their wings as fearless as free,
Ride the gloom as if 'twere the sun
Gold-bridled for you and for me.

Summer rain, the cold drifting sleet
That whistles as spiteful as hail!
A roadstead, the billows that fleet
Under the black lash of the gale!

We laugh at their seething, their roar,
Draw our breath full in their face;
We have wings, we know we can soar,--
Your secret and mine in embrace!

(Wings, wings, the soul of our life!
Outspread they victory tell,--
Upliftings amid gulfs of strife,
Wafts of heaven that keep us from hell!)

Brave hero, winged hero of sea--
The sea with black tempest in breast,
Here we mount on the breakers, free,
Soon to soar into calm, into rest!