by T.H.S.E.
Originally published in Belgravia (John Maxwell) vol.5 #18 (Apr 1868).
Scarce three months since her lover sailed:
Sudden the severing message came;
But love was strength;his soul ne'er failed:
He thought of her, and thought of fame.
He left with youth upon his brow,
And courage master of his heart:
Love well would guide his good ship's prow,
And hope could soothe e'en parting's smart!
And she,—ah, blessed thought!—why fear?
There close beside her quiet home
The great sea rolled for ever near,
O'er which her lover's barque would roam!
And oft along the sounding shore,
When waves ran high and day grew dim,
She listened to the ocean's roar,
That seemed to tell her soul of him.
One night she heard the storm come down,
As by the ocean's marge she stood:
Far out the crested breakers thrown,
Whitened with wrath the angry flood.
And to her sadd'ning heart seemed borne
Strange murmurs from the wind above;
"Great God," she said, "from night till morn
O guard him safe, my love, my love!"
Days passed: there lingered still behind
The shadow of that fearful night;
She dared no longer trust the wind,
The sea grew deathlike to her sight.
Then came the news—her fears were true;
Her love,—he slept eternally
Down fathoms deep: that night, she knew,
Death's note had sounded in the sea!