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Opals (Custance)/In a Boat

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4462783Opals — In a BoatOlive Custance

In a Boat

Look yonder! where the sun a fiery shield
Glows red as blood, . . . slung low in a clear sky!
Day droops with languid limbs and calm lips sealed

Slumber-ward in the west; and Night leans nigh.
The boat that bears us to the rock-girt shore
Seems scarce to move, she sails so listlessly:

The sunset paves a golden path before,
Behind,—the purple pinions of the night
Winnow the wide sea's emerald tinted floor.

A dusky flock of starlings in their flight
Stand out against the rose-stained heaven, they are
Like leaves uplifted cast athwart the light.

Flushes of lingering colour, from afar
Reflect themselves in the round silver moon,
And in the blue burns flower-like one white star . . .

Our Summer day has sped so soon . . . soon! . . .
Still, you are near me Dearest, and there lies
All its lost sunshine in your splendid eyes!