IN A STORM

All day long in the spindrift swinging,

Bird of the sea! bird of the sea!

How I would that I had thy winging —

How I envy thee!

How I would that I had thy spirit,

So to careen, joyous to cry,

Over the storm and never fear it!

Into the night that hovers near it!

Calm on a reeling sky!

All day long, and the night, unresting!

Ah! I believe thy every breath

Means that Life's Best comes ever breasting

Peril and pain and death!