Sea-Drift

    Out of the cradle endlessly rocking，

    Out of the mocking-bird's throat， the musical shuttle，

    Out of the Ninth- month midnight，

    Over the sterile¹ sands and the fields beyond， where the child

    leaving his bed wander'd alone， bareheaded， barefoot，

    Down from the shower'd halo，

    Up from the mystic play of shadows twining and twisting as if

    they were alive，

    Out from the patches of briers and blackberries，

    From the memories of the bird that chanted to me，

    From your memories sad brother， from the fitful risings and

    fallings I heard，

    From under that yellow half-moon late-risen and swollen³ as

    if with tears，

    From those beginning notes of yearning⁴ and love there in the

    mist，

    From the thousand responses of my heart never to cease，

    From the myriad⁵ thence-arous'd words，

    From the word stronger and more delicious than any，

    From such as now they start the scene revisiting，

    As a flock， twittering， rising， or overhead passing，

    Borne hither， ere all eludes⁶ me， hurriedly，

    A man， yet by these tears a little boy again，

    Throwing myself on the sand， confronting the waves，

    I， chanter of pains and joys， uniter of here and hereafter，

    Taking all hints to use them， but swiftly leaping beyond them，

    A reminiscence sing.

    Once Paumanok，

    When the lilac-scent was in the air and Fifth-month grass

    was growing，

    Up this seashore in some briers，

    Two feather'd guests from Alabama， two together，

    And their nest， and four light-green eggs spotted⁷ with brown，

    And every day the he-bird to and fro near at hand，

    And every day the she-bird crouch'd on her nest， silent， with

    bright eyes，

    And every day I， a curious boy， never too close， never

    disturbing them，

    Cautiously peering， absorbing， translating.

    Shine！ shine！ shine！

    Pour down your warmth， great sun！

    While we bask⁸， we two together.

    Two together！

    Winds blow south， or winds blow north，

    Day come white， or night come black，

    Home， or rivers and mountains from home，

    Singing all time， minding no time，

    While we two keep together.

    Till of a sudden，

    May-be kill'd， unknown to her mate，

    One forenoon the she-bird crouch'd not on the nest，

    Nor return'd that afternoon， nor the next，

    Nor ever appear'd again.

    And thenceforward all summer in the sound of the sea，

    And at night under the full of the moon in calmer weather，

    Over the hoarse⁹ surging of the sea，

    Or flitting from brier by day，

    I saw， I heard at intervals¹⁰ the remaining one， the he-bird，

    The solitary¹¹ guest from Alabama.

    Blow！ blow！ blow！

    Blow up sea-winds along Paumanok's shore；

    I wait and I wait till you blow my mate to me.

    Yes， when the stars glisten'd，

    All night long on the prong of a moss-scallop'd stake，

    Down almost amid the slapping waves，

    Sat the lone² singer wonderful causing tears.

    He call'd on his mate，

    He pour'd forth¹² the meanings which I of all men know.

    Yes my brother I know，

    The rest might not， but I have treasur'd every note，

    For more than once dimly down to the beach gliding¹³，

    Silent， avoiding the moonbeams， blending myself with the

    shadows，

    Recalling now the obscure shapes， the echoes， the sounds

    and sights after their sorts，

    The white arms out in the breakers tirelessly tossing，

    I， with bare feet， a child， the wind wafting¹⁴ my hair，

    Listen'd long and long.

    Listen'd to keep， to sing， now translating the notes，

    Following you my brother.

    Soothe¹⁵！ soothe！ soothe！

    Close on its wave soothes¹⁶ the wave behind，

    And again another behind embracing and lapping， every one close，

    But my love soothes not me， not me.

    Low hangs the moon， it rose late，

    It is lagging - O I think it is heavy with love， with love.

    O madly the sea pushes upon the land，

    With love， with love.