Richard Watson Gilder

1844-1909 / the United States

Listening To Music

(RUBINSTEIN'S 'OCEAN SYMPHONY;' FROM 'THE NEW DAY')
WHEN on that joyful sea
Where billow on billow breaks; where swift waves follow
Waves, and hollow calls to hollow;
Where sea-birds swirl and swing,
And winds through the rigging shrill and sing:
Where night is one vast starless shade;
Where thy soul not afraid,
Though all alone unlonely,
Wanders and wavers, wavers wandering;
On that accurséd sea
One moment only,
Forget one moment, Love, thy fierce content;
Back, let thy soul be bent,—
Think back, dear Love; O Love, think back to me.
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