THE GULF STREAM

Skilled mariner, and counted sane and wise,

That was a curious thing which chanced to me,

So good a sailor on so fair a sea.

With favouring winds and blue unshadowed skies,

Led by the faithful beacon of Love's eyes,

Past reef and shoal, my life-boat bounded free

And fearless of all changes that might be

Under calm waves, where many a sunk rock lies.

A golden dawn; yet suddenly my barque

Strained at the sails, as in a cyclone's blast;

And battled with an unseen current's force,

For we had entered when the night was dark

That old tempestuous Gulf Stream of the Past.

But for love's eyes, I had not kept the course.