OFF SHORE.
Rock, little boat, beneath the quiet sky,
Only the stars behold us where we lie,—
Only the stars and yonder brightening moon
Only the stars behold us where we lie,—
Only the stars and yonder brightening moon
On the wide sea to-night alone are we;
The sweet, bright summer day dies silently,
Its glowing sunset will have faded soon.
The sweet, bright summer day dies silently,
Its glowing sunset will have faded soon.
Rock softly, little boat, the while I mark
The far off gliding sails, distinct and dark,
Across the west pass steadily and slow.
The far off gliding sails, distinct and dark,
Across the west pass steadily and slow.
But on the eastern waters sad, they change
And vanish, dream-like, gray, and cold, and strange,
And no one knoweth whither they may go.
And vanish, dream-like, gray, and cold, and strange,
And no one knoweth whither they may go.
We care not, we, drifting with wind and tide,
While glad waves darken upon either side,
Save where the moon sends silver sparkles down.
While glad waves darken upon either side,
Save where the moon sends silver sparkles down.
