SEA PICTURES — FRANCE.

One autumn evening from the west-most steep

I watched the daylight passing o’ er the deep;—

Down from the setting sun the great waves rolled

Along its seaward path of molten gold,

All the dark ocean rocks like capes of brass

Gleamed where the foam had washed them, and the grass

Grew glorious with that light, and the long swell

Line after line that followed, rose and fell

And shattered into frosted gold, the sky

Arched splendour over splendour,— isles that lie

Of crimson cloudland in pale seas of blue

Red bars of flame with one star peeping through,

Silent for glory; and the sea’ s monotone

Grew part with silence;— the great world rolled on

And the sun watched along the waves, until

The glow died upwards on the western hill,

And the shade saddened over all the sea

Reaching away, starward away from me

Into the twilight and Eternity.