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After a night so fierce and foul

What wonder such a day?

The wind, which shrieked like a tortured soul

Last night across the bay,

Blew high and keen like a violin

And dashed the blue with spray.

After a night so mad and wild

An afternoon of blue,

Of glinting, winking, glad blue waters

And breakers only a few,

Of light and azure undefiled

With scarce a cloud in view.

And at the hour of evening prayer

Came three who roamed the shore,

The sea was older, colder, and greyer,

And moved and murmured more.

Amid the waste of heaven and sea

A body lay alone,

Half in a pool and half on the knee

Of an ancient mossy stone.

The sea had saved a poor little fool

From life and all its harms,

Her body lay in a lonely pool —

Not in a lover's arms.

And on her cheek the mask of peace

And on her lips the smile

Of those who mourn and find release,

Who know, not love, the vile.