* ON THE EBB *

The tide fell fast and foaming, the empty sand shone bright,

And by the ocean roaming, upon the edge of night,

I found a something stranded with sea-fowl mewing high —

A wondrous atom landed and left all high and dry.

Whoever yet suspected mer-babies on a beach?

Yet here, by tide neglected, lay one within my reach —

A dainty, winsome creature as pink as any rose,

His golden tail a feature to take the place of toes.

And through the billows splashing, the sunset in her hair,

Over the white foam flashing, there rode a lady fair.

His blue-eyed, wild mer-mother swam wailing on the sea.

She sparkled through the smother and clamoured mournfully.

In gentle hands and steady, I lifted her delight,

Made sure that she was ready, then flung with all my might.

She sprang, like salmon leaping; she laughed in radiant

And gathered to safe keeping her rosy, golden boy.

I’ d earned a mother’ s blessing — a good thing any day;

But now one fell to guessing what Science had to say:

For such authentic wonders, upon an ebbing tide,

Show zoologic blunders that cannot be denied.