26 
AMBERGRIS 
Now, ere youth fades, flows in peace past woody bank 
and green eyot. 
 
Highest, white heather and rock, 
Mountain and pine, with young laughter, 
Breezes that murmur and mock 
Duller delights to come after, 
Wild as a swallow that dives whither the sea wind 
would waft her. 
 
Lower, an ocean of flowers, 
Trees that are warmer and leafier, 
Starrier, sunnier hours 
Spurning the stain of all grief here, 
Bringing a quiet delight to us, beyond our belief 
here. 
 
Lastly, the uttermost sea, 
Starred with the flakes of spray sunlit, 
Blue as its caverns that be 
Crystal, resplendent, yet unlit ; 
So like a mother receives the kiss of the dainty-lip 
runlet. 
 
Here the green moss is my seat, 
Beech is the canopy o’er me, 
Calm and content the retreat ; 
Man, my worst foe, cannot bore me ; 
Life is a closed book behind—Shelley an open be-
fore me. 
 
Shelley’s own birds are above 
Close to me (why should they fear me ?) 
May I believe it—that love 
Brings his bright spirit so near me 
That, should I whisper one word—Shelley’s swift 
spirit would hear me ?