Four Songs for Sailors

The night is [calm]1 and cloudless,
And still as still can be,
And the stars come forth to listen

To the music of the sea.
They gather, and gather, and gather,
Until they crowd the sky,
And listen, in breathless silence,
To the solemn litany.

It begins in rocky caverns,
As a voice that chaunts alone
To the pedals of the organ
In monotonous undertone ;

And anon from shelving beaches,
And shallow sands beyond.
In snow-white robes uprising
The ghostly choirs respond.

And sadly and unceasing
The mournful voice sings on,
And the snow-white choirs still answer
Christe eleison!