Ambergris

AMBERGRIS 81 FROM THE ARGONAUTS The Song of the Siren, Leucosia O Lover, I am lonely here ! O lover, I am weeping ! Each pearl of ocean is a tear Let fall while love was sleeping. A tear is made of fire and dew And saddened with a smile ; The sun’s laugh in the curving blue Lasts but a little while. The night-winds kiss the deep : the stars Shed laughter from above ; But night must pass dawn’s prison bars : Night hath not tasted love. With me the night is fallen in day ; The day swoons back to night ; The white and black are woven in gray, Faint sleep of silken light. A strange soft light about me shed Devours the sense of time : Hovers about my sleepy head Some sweet persistent rime. Beneath my breast my love may hear Deep murmur of the billows— O gather me to thee, my dear, On soft forgetful pillows ! O gather me in arms of love As maidens plucking posies,