THE PROPHECY
They sat on the beach till the tide was full
And the fishing boats returned,
And looked where the breakers were white as wool,
Where the light-house beacon burned.
And the fishing boats returned,
And looked where the breakers were white as wool,
Where the light-house beacon burned.
"To-morrow," he said—"to-morrow I'll be
Sailing beyond the bar,
Out on the sad and desolate sea,
Beyond reach of that lonesome star.
Sailing beyond the bar,
Out on the sad and desolate sea,
Beyond reach of that lonesome star.
"The wind shall beckon and be my friend—
Blow, merry breezes, blow!—
But through life and death, and unto the end,
You are mine in spite of your 'No!'
Blow, merry breezes, blow!—
But through life and death, and unto the end,
You are mine in spite of your 'No!'
"You shall wake at night from a dream of delight
And list to the breakers' tone,
Where you'll seem to hear a voice once dear
Imploring again for its own.
And list to the breakers' tone,
Where you'll seem to hear a voice once dear
Imploring again for its own.
"You shall start with fright at the fall of night
As you walk—not alone—on the sand,
Should a heedless wave disclose a grave
There at your feet where you stand.
As you walk—not alone—on the sand,
Should a heedless wave disclose a grave
There at your feet where you stand.
"Living or dead, here be it said—
'Tis so hard to do without you—
You shall see my sad face in every place,
You shall feel my presence about you.
'Tis so hard to do without you—
You shall see my sad face in every place,
You shall feel my presence about you.
"By the fireside's blaze, in the long summer days
You'll be never again alone,
For I shall inherit, in body or spirit,
The heart that you call your own."
You'll be never again alone,
For I shall inherit, in body or spirit,
The heart that you call your own."
A year had passed, when his ship at last
Discharged its motley crew,
And the color came to her cheeks in a flame
When she thought what a year could do.
Discharged its motley crew,
And the color came to her cheeks in a flame
When she thought what a year could do.
She stole to the shore at dusk, or before
The stars were large in the sky,
And cried, "Oh, my own, I am waiting alone!"
In answer there came—a sigh!
The stars were large in the sky,
And cried, "Oh, my own, I am waiting alone!"
In answer there came—a sigh!
He stood before her, her true adorer,
One instant, only one;
But that moment's bliss was enough for this—
It told what a year had done!
One instant, only one;
But that moment's bliss was enough for this—
It told what a year had done!
White and wan as the sky at dawn,
Like a trembling mist, I ween;
He seemed to be but a breath of the sea,
Through which the stars could be seen.
Like a trembling mist, I ween;
He seemed to be but a breath of the sea,
Through which the stars could be seen.