Song of the Wave

• The strong shore is my beloved
• And I am his sweetheart.
• We are at last united by love, and
• Then the moon draws me from him.
• I go to him in haste and depart
• Reluctantly, with many
• Little farewells.
•  
• I steal swiftly from behind the
• Blue horizon to cast the silver of
• My foam upon the gold of his sand, and
• We blend in melted brilliance.
•  
• I quench his thirst and submerge his
• Heart; he softens my voice and subdues
• My temper.
• At dawn I recite the rules of love upon
• His ears, and he embraces me longingly.
•  
• At eventide I sing to him the song of
• Hope, and then print smooth hisses upon
• His face; I am swift and fearful, but he
• Is quiet, patient, and thoughtful. His
• Broad bosom soothes my restlessness.
•  
• As the tide comes we caress each other,
• When it withdraws, I drop to his feet in
• Prayer.
•  
• Many times have I danced around mermaids
• As they rose from the depths and rested
• Upon my crest to watch the stars;
• Many times have I heard lovers complain
• Of their smallness, and I helped them to sigh.
•  
• Many times have I teased the great rocks
• And fondled them with a smile, but never
• Have I received laughter from them;
• Many times have I lifted drowning souls
• And carried them tenderly to my beloved
• Shore. He gives them strength as he
• Takes mine.
•  
• Many times have I stolen gems from the
• Depths and presented them to my beloved
• Shore. He takes them in silence, but still
• I give fro he welcomes me ever.
•  
• In the heaviness of night, when all
• Creatures seek the ghost of Slumber, I
• Sit up, singing at one time and sighing
• At another. I am awake always.
•  
• Alas! Sleeplessness has weakened me!
• But I am a lover, and the truth of love
• Is strong.
• I may be weary, but I shall never die.