Hymns of the Marshes/Marsh Song—At Sunset

by Sidney Lanier

III

MARSH SONG—AT SUNSET

Over the monstrous shambling sea,
Over the Caliban sea,
Bright Ariel-cloud, thou lingerest;
Oh wait, oh wait, in the warm red West,—
Thy Prospero I'll be.

Over the humped and fishy sea,
Over the Caliban sea

O cloud in the West, like a thought in the heart

 

Over the monstrous shambling sea,

Of pardon, loose thy wing, and start,

And do a grace for me.

Over the huge and huddling sea,
Over the Caliban sea,
Bring hither my brother Antonio,—Man,—
My injurer; night breaks the ban:
Brother, I pardon thee.

Baltimore, 1879–80.