THE ALDE

How near I walked to Love,

How long, I cannot tell.

I was like the Alde that flows

Quietly through green level lands,

So quietly, it knows

Their shape, their greenness and their shadows well;

And then undreamingly for miles it goes

And silently, beside the sea.

Seamews circle over,

The winter wildfowl wings,

Long and green the grasses wave

Between the river and the sea.

The sea's cry, wild or grave,

From, bank to low bank of the river rings;

But the uncertain river though it crave

The sea, knows not the sea.

Was that indeed salt wind?

Came that noise from falling

Wild waters on a stony shore?

Oh, what is this new troubling tide

Of eager waves that pour

Around and over, leaping, parting, recalling?...

How near I moved ( as day to same day wore )

And silently, beside the sea!