Page:Poems David.djvu/84

Upon thee I will live, thou restless wave,
For thou art my home and may be my grave.
I long to sail over the wide spreading sea,
Oh! how my heart pines for those fairy lands,
Where the palm trees wave over shell strewn sands.
And over those bright and all glorious seas,
Sweep the soft breath of the sweet citron trees."
Thus he sat musing till evening's cool shades,
Had settled on the calm rippling waves;—
And finding he could no longer stay
Homeward he bent his solitary way.
But alas! too late, as the rising tide,
Was beating on the headland's rocky side.
A cry of fear started from his lips,
Seeing the waves fast washing o'er the cliffs.
He paused a moment and looked so grave,
With a brighter face he then exclaimed,
"There is yet a path that I can gain?"—
Then swiftly running along the beach,
The rocky path he soon had reached.
Then up sprang he and by the rock so steep,
He passed one huge stone falling to the deep,
Holds fast his steps for one short moment's stay,
Ere yet he hastened on his homeward way.

'Tis evening, and the silver moon's pale beam,