Ebony and Crystal/The Nereid
THE NEREID
Her face the sinking stars desire.
Unto her place the slow deeps bring
Shadow of errant winds that wing
O'er sterile gulfs of foam and fire.
Unto her place the slow deeps bring
Shadow of errant winds that wing
O'er sterile gulfs of foam and fire.
Her beauty is the light of pearls.
All stars and dreams and sunsets die
To make the fluctuant glooms that lie
Around her, and low noonlight swirls
All stars and dreams and sunsets die
To make the fluctuant glooms that lie
Around her, and low noonlight swirls
Down ocean's firmamental deep,
To weave for her who glimmers there,
Elusive visions, vague and fair;
And night is as a dreamless sleep:
To weave for her who glimmers there,
Elusive visions, vague and fair;
And night is as a dreamless sleep:
She has not known the night's unrest,
Nor the white curse of clearer day;
The tremors of the tempest play
Like slow delight about her breast.
Nor the white curse of clearer day;
The tremors of the tempest play
Like slow delight about her breast.
Serene, an immanence of fire,
She dwells forever, ocean-thralled,
Soul of the sea's vast emerald;
Her face the sinking stars desire.
She dwells forever, ocean-thralled,
Soul of the sea's vast emerald;
Her face the sinking stars desire.