Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SEASIDE SONG: 1, by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SEASIDE SONG: 1, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Drop down below the orbed sea
Last Line: On the deck I see him stand!
Alternate Author Name(s): Meredith, Owen; Lytton, 1st Earl Of; Lytton, Robert
Subject(s): Sea; Love; Ocean


DROP down below the orbed sea,
O lingering light in glowing skies,
And bring my own true-love to me --
My dear true-love across the sea --
With tender-lighted eyes.

For now the gates of Night are flung
Wide open her dark coasts among:
And the happy stars crowd up, and up,
Like bubbles that brighten, one by one,
To the dark wet brim of some glowing cup
Filled full to the parting sun.

And moment after moment grows
In grandeur up from deep to deep
Of darkness, till the night hath clomb,
From star to star, heaven's highest dome,
And, like a new thought born in sleep,
The slumbrous glory glows, and glows:
While, far below, a whisper goes
That heaves the happy sea:
For o'er faint tracts of fragrance wide,
A rapture pouring up the tide --
A freshness through the heat -- a sweet,
Uncertain sound, like fairy feet --
The west-wind blows my love to me.

Love-laden from the lighted west
Thou comest, with thy soul opprest
For joy of him: all up the dim,
Delicious sea blow fearlessly,
Warm wind, that art the tenderest
Of all that breathe from south or west,
Blow whispers of him up the sea:
Upon my cheek, and on my breast,
And on the lips which he hath prest,
Blow all his kisses back to me!

Far off, the dark green rocks about,
All night shines, faint and fair, the far light;
Far off, the lone, late fishers shout
From boat to boat i' the listening starlight:
Far off, and fair, the sea lies bare,
Leagues, leagues beyond the reach of rowing:
Up creek and horn the smooth wave swells
And falls asleep; or, inland flowing,
Twinkles among the silver shells,
From sluice to sluice of shallow wells;
Or, down dark pools of purple glowing,
Sets some forlorn star trembling there
In his own dim, dreamlike brilliancy.
And I feel the dark sails growing
Nearer, clearer, up the sea:
And I catch the warm west blowing
All my own love's sighs to me:
On the deck I hear them singing
Songs they sing in my own land:
Lights are swinging: bells are ringing:
On the deck I see him stand!





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