A SEA SCENE

From rim to shimmering rim the sea

Is burnished like chalcedony.

The waves that set their lips to land

Scarce make a murmur on the sand.

The ships appear to poise between

Two voids of opalescent sheen.

Aye, here eternal calm seems set

In bland beatitude, and yet

A single potent hour, aye, less,

Can change this placid loveliness,

And cause, where life smiles fair and fain,

The raging demon death to reign!