DEDICATION.

TO EDWARD JOHN TRELAWNY.

A SEA-MEW on a sea-king's wrist alighting,

As the north sea-wind caught and strained and curled

The raven-figured flag that led men fighting

From field to green field of the water-world,

Might find such brief high favour at his hand

For wings imbrued with brine, with foam impearled,

As these my songs require at yours on land,

That durst not save for love's free sake require,

Being lightly born between the foam and sand,

But reared by hope and memory and desire

Of lives that were and life that is to be,

Even such as filled his heavenlier song with fire

Whose very voice, that sang to set man free,
Was in your ears as ever in ours his lyre,

Once, ere the flame received him from the sea.

THALASSIUS

B

THALASSIUS.

UPON the flowery forefront of the year,

One wandering by the grey-green April sea

Found on a reach of shingle and shallower sand
Inlaid with starrier glimmering Jewellery

Left for the sun's love and the light wind's cheer

Along the foam-flowered strand

Breeze-brightened, something nearer sea than land Though the last shoreward blossom-fringe was near, A babe asleep with flower-soft face that gleamed

To sun and seaward as it laughed and dreamed,

Too sure of either love for either's fear,

Albeit so birdlike slight and light, it seemed