An oar dipped from the bay. Came the faint creak
Of locks and running ripples at the bow.
She brushed her hair impatient from her cheek.
Eric was coming. Eric was coming now.
—Mother, he said—I can't land. Anyhow
I didn't come for long. Don't miss me—I—
Mother, he said—I've come to say goodbye.
Of locks and running ripples at the bow.
She brushed her hair impatient from her cheek.
Eric was coming. Eric was coming now.
—Mother, he said—I can't land. Anyhow
I didn't come for long. Don't miss me—I—
Mother, he said—I've come to say goodbye.
Why did he come so stealthily as if
He were a seaman still, a criminal
On shore. He sat there hidden, talking, stiff . . .
His voice in darkness sounded beautiful.
Beating on shore resounded the loud, dull
Chant of the sea that followed when—he fled;
She wished he were with her, safe in his bed.
He were a seaman still, a criminal
On shore. He sat there hidden, talking, stiff . . .
His voice in darkness sounded beautiful.
Beating on shore resounded the loud, dull
Chant of the sea that followed when—he fled;
She wished he were with her, safe in his bed.
—I've got to go away and leave this place,
The smuggling time is over here. And you . . .
You've never seen me much, to miss my face.
I've got a fine old ship. I've signed a crew.
I want to see the world. Her black hair blew
Black as the night and covered up her eyes.
She knew that she was listening to lies.
The smuggling time is over here. And you . . .
You've never seen me much, to miss my face.
I've got a fine old ship. I've signed a crew.
I want to see the world. Her black hair blew
Black as the night and covered up her eyes.
She knew that she was listening to lies.
The shadows of the ships all loomed up vast;
Felt but not seen they stood, tangled in air.
There was no light in heaven or earth to cast
Light on the stealthy tide, nor anywhere
Sound but of his voice below her there.
—Darkness and sea, she said,—darkness and sea,
And my own son has turned away from me.
Felt but not seen they stood, tangled in air.
There was no light in heaven or earth to cast
Light on the stealthy tide, nor anywhere
Sound but of his voice below her there.
—Darkness and sea, she said,—darkness and sea,
And my own son has turned away from me.
