The First Lover
As o’er the vessel’s side she leant,She saw the swimmer in the seaWith eager eyes on her intent,“Come down, come down and swim with me.”
So weary was she of her lot,Tired of the ship’s monotony,She straightway all the world forgotSave the young swimmer in the sea
So when the dusky, dying lightLeft all the water dark and dim,She softly, in the friendly night,Slipped down the vessel’s side to him.
Intent and brilliant, brightly dark,She saw his burning, eager eyes,And many a phosphorescent sparkAbout his shoulders fall and rise.
As through the hushed and Eastern nightThey swam together, hand in hand,Or lay and laughed in sheer delightFull length upon the level sand.
“Ah, soft, delusive, purple nightWhose darkness knew no vexing moon!Ah, cruel, needless, dawning lightThat trembled in the sky too soon!”