SEA-CHANGE

Wind-flicked and ruddy her young body glowed

In sunny shallows, splashing them to spray;

But when on rippled, silver sand she lay,

And over her the little green waves flowed,

Coldly translucent and moon-coloured showed

Her frail young beauty, as if rapt away

From all the light and laughter of the day

To some twilit, forlorn sea-god's abode.

Again into the sun with happy cry

She leapt alive and sparkling from the sea,

Sprinkling white spray against the hot blue sky,

A laughing girl... and yet, I see her lie

Under a deeper tide eternally

In cold moon-coloured immortality.