I

The side of a ship is a strong wall

And a presumptuous thing,

Hewn by men's hands from mighty trees,

For the crashing waved to fling

Against. A ship's side -

Men within - the sea without.

II

A boy on a garden-wall in spring!

A gay mosaic city-world

Sprawls up the hill beyond him,

But the far-eyed lad is curled

O'er his book in another world.

III

A dream of old songs in the candle-light -

A dream of cloudy notes

Struck from the dim keyboard long and white -

A dream of old wars; of seas

That crush in long thunder on a beach -

A dream of dancers long forgot that seem

To dance again - a music-world -

A dream -

IV

The still canoe, beneath a black rock

Rests on a back pool. The water shows

Reflection of a bronzed lean body

Bent above a paddle. A black bird goes

Across a deep gray sky, and all is still again.