Alfred Perceval Graves

THE HEAVEN was star-strewn

Above the new moon;

Before a faint breeze we were floating;

When out of the distance, still clearer and clearer

And nearer and nearer there sighed

And there cried

A strange, lonesome song o’er the tide.

We stood still and grave

To watch a far wave,

That gathered and gathered toward us;

Till laughing aboard us there leaped from the billow

With locks long and yellow—a Maid—

The Sea Maid,

Whose song on our heart-strings had played.

Sweet pain, pleasure sharp,

She poured from her harp;

Around her we listened in wonder,

The wave warbled under, the stars in heaven’s hollow

They all seemed to follow her song,

Her lone song,

As idly we fleeted along.

To leave us she turned;

Then rashly we burned

To keep her bright beauty before us.

But when to enring her we strove, the Sea Singer

She wove her white finger around

And around,

And left us all standing spell-bound.