Ambergris

76 AMBERGRIS FROM THE ARGONAUTS At Waikiki Light shed from seaward over breakers bending Kiss-wise to the emerald hollows : light divine Whereof the sun is God, the sea his shrine ; Light in vibrations rhythmic ; light unending ; Light sideways from the girdling crags ex-tending Unto this lone and languid head of mine ; Light, that fulfils creation as with wine, Flows in the channels of the deep : light, rending The adamantine columns of the night, Is laden with the love-song of the light. Light, pearly-glimmering through dim gulf and hollow, Below the foam-kissed lips of all the sea ; Light shines from all the sky and up to me From the amber floors of sand : Light calls Apollo ! The shafts of fire fledged of the eagle follow The crested surf, and strike the shore, and flee Far from green cover, nymph-enchanted lea, Fountain, and plume them white as the sea-swallow, And turn and quiver in the ocean, seeming The glances of a maiden kissed, or dreaming. Light, as I swim through rollers green and gleaming, Sheds its most subtle sense to penetrate This heart I thought impervious to Fate. Now the sweet light, the full delight, is beaming Through me and burns me : all my flesh is teeming With the live kisses of the sea, my mate, My mistress, till the fires of life abate And leave me languid, man-forgotten, deeming I see in sleep, in many-coloured night, More hope than in the flame-waves of the light.