Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SONGS OF THE SEA CHILDREN: 76 by BLISS CARMAN

First Line: WHEN THE OCTOBER WIND STOLE IN
Last Line: HAD SPENT THE NIGHT WITH ME.
Subject(s): WAKING; MEMORY;

When the October wind stole in
To wake me in my chamber cool,
With dancing sunlight on the wall,
From the still vestibule
Fluttered a sound like rustling leaves,
Or the just-heard departing stir
Of silk, a hint of presence gone,
A waft of lavender.
I saw upon my arms strange marks,
Traced when my eyes were unaware,
Like petal-stains of some green rose
Or faint kiss-bruises there;
And wondered, as there came the sad
Eternal whisper of the sea,
Which one of all my pale dead loves
Had spent the night with me.



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