Poems and Baudelaire Flowers/Esquisse

by John Collings Squire

ESQUISSE

Slow rollers sweeping to the beach,
The shoremost brilliant in the moon;
Two lovers clinging each to each,
Knowing they must be parted soon.

Poor souls that strive in vain to think
Of hope, though thought of hope were vain,
Poor shadowed hearts that dumbly shrink
The anguish of a lonely pain!

Ah! sad beyond all power of speech
That Life and life are out of tune. . . .
The shoremost roller on the beach
Breaks and is snow-white in the moon.