Spindrift : five songs

A hundred times I kissed the lips
Of my young love and true;
Now over her mouth the slow tide slips,
And where went down a hundred ships,
Went down my kisses too.

A hundred times I called to her
With a cry full long and sore,
But never more shall her spirit stir,
And never up from the wild water
Shall come my young love more.

There is a star in the mist,
Dim-eyed and still,
And somewhere under the hill
Is the place where we kissed.

Sweet, are you near, are you far?
How shall I know?
Up from the silence below
Climbs the mist to the star.

Spring is but a maiden fair,
See her and thou'lt love her,
Dimpling cheeks and golden hair
Spring is but a maiden fair.

And oh! the gown that Spring doth wear.
Bright like skies above her,
Spring is but a maiden fair,
See her and thou'll love her.

The stars shall watch with Mary
My fair young Son to keep,
Which are so far and shining,
Too far to break His sleep.

The trees shall stand with Joseph
To guard around His bed,
The tall trees of the forest
Which are so dark and dread.

Thus spoke the King in Heaven,
And all the stars had joy,
And the tall trees grew tender
For bending o'er the Boy.

Fly, fly, from the sea to the sky,
Dipping and turning above the foam;
                    Fly, fly!
Fly free from the sky to the sea,
Fly free with a welcome for me,
And bring me a message from home.

Red, red, sinks the sun to his bed,
Crimson the sea and the sky above;
                    Fly. fly!
Fly low with your wings like the snow,
Low, low in the westering glow,
And bring me a message of love.

From the far away home where my thoughts ever go
                    Bring me a message of love