THE CHANGELING

‘ Ahoy, and ahoy!’

‘ Twixt mocking and merry —

‘ Ahoy and ahoy, there,

Young man of the ferry!’

She stood on the steps

In the watery gloom — -

That Changeling —‘ Ahoy, there!’

She called him to come.

He came on the green wave,

He came on the grey,

Where stooped that sweet lady

That still summer's day.

He fell in a dream

Of her beautiful face,

As she sat on the thwart

And smiled in her place.

No echo his oar woke,

Float silent did they,

Past low-grazing cattle

In the sweet of the hay.

And still in a dream

At her beauty sat he,

Drifting stern foremost

Down — down to the sea.

Come you, then: call,

When the twilight apace

Brings shadow to brood

On the loveliest face;

You shall hear o'er the water

Ring faint in the grey — -

‘ Ahoy, and ahoy, there!’

And tremble away;

‘ Ahoy, and ahoy!...’

And tremble away.