THE VOICES OF THE SEA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 29, 2 January 1884, Page 3

THE VOICES OF THE SEA.

Along the shell-wreathed, shining strand The old and young went to and fro; The sinking sun filled all the land With evening’s rich and ruddy glow. The hot clouds in the amber west Lit up the sea-kissed shingly bars, And weary ones who longed for rest Waited the dawning of the stars. There came the murmur of the sea Along the soft sands of the shore : ’Twas laden with deep mystery, And music strange was in its roar. And, as the voices of its waves Were borne upon the listening ears, They sang alike of songs and graves, Of sunny hearts and sacred tears. There passed a little blue-eyed boy, As sank the sun on ocean’s brim : Naught but the sound of endless joy Across the red waves came to him. For his bright fancy chased the sun O’er seas of emerald and gold; And the sweet life he had begun Its first fair scenes had now unrolled. With merry heart a maiden came, The shining sunlit sands along, To her the sea bore one dear name Amidst the burden of its song; And the ten thousand glitterings That stretched across the sunlit bay, Seemed messengers on golden wings From her true loved one far away. There came a man of full fourscore Into the twilight all alone, To him the sea broke on the shore With solemn sway and sullen moan. The voices of the bygone years Came faintly on its sad refrain ; Yet when he called, ’mid rising tears, On friends, they answered not again. Still Bank tho sun. Then rose the stars. And looked down on the cold grey shore; Still solemnly the moaning bars Wailed low their music as of yore. And some with sad eyes met the night, To pass the watches all forlorn; And some there slept ’mid visions bright Till dawned the fragrant, rosy morn. —All the Year Round.