Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

RHYME OF THE LAND AND SEA by JOHN GALSWORTHY

First Line: BY THE SIDE OF ME - THE IMMORTAL PAN
Last Line: "OF SMILING DEPTHS -- I DROWN!"
BY the side of me, the immortal Pan,
Lies the sweetest thing of the sea;
In her gown of brine,
With her breast to mine,
And her drowned dark hair lies she!

But her smile -- like the wine-red, shadowy sea,
When the day slides on and down --
By the gods, it is tender death to me!
In its waters dark I drown!
"O slave of mine! Thou mystery
Of smiling depths -- I drown!"



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