Grace Hazard Conkling

THE OCEAN is a garden

That folds you closely home

With larkspur-blue from heaven,

And roses of bright foam.

The dawn upon your waters

Is like anemones:

Your noons are flaked with scarlet

As from pomegranate trees.

The bubble-towers that sunset

Dilates with rainbow light,

Dusk turns to shadowed silver

Like olive trees at night.

O silver of dark olives,

Of cool night-shrouded seas,

That gives you rest from color,

And time for memories!