A SAILOR’ S WIFE.

Sun in my lattice, and sun on the sea

( Oh, but the sun is fair ),

And a sky of blue and a sea of green,

And a ship with a white, white sail between,

And a light wind blowing free —

And back from the stern, and forth from the land,

The last farewell of a waving hand.

Mist on the window and mist on the sea

( Oh, but the mist is gray ),

And the weird, tall shape of a spectral mast

Gleams out of the fog like a ghost of my past,

And the old hope stirs in me —

The old, old hope that warred with doubt,

While the years with the tides surged in and out.

Rain on my window and rain on the sea

( Oh, but the rain is sad ),

And only the dreams of a vanished barque

And a vanished youth shine through the dark,

And torture the night and me.

But somewhere, I think, near some fair strand,

That lost ship lies with its waving hand.