SEA-FOAM

The once-flashed beauty borne on a breaking wave

Dies to a requiem sung on the sounding shore;

Beyond all reach of mortal power to save

In spray-crowned glory it passes for evermore.

Would that the heart could capture and hold and keep

The glory of beauty, sped in a moment's space!

Could fix for ever the splendour and strength and sweep

Of the wind-wild wave, in its riotous rapturous race!

Brave brief hopes, are you not sped as the wave —

Sped to a requiem sighed on a wreck-strewn shore?

While memory murmurs in dreams that you once were brave,

And sadness softly sighs that you are no more.