by John Galsworthy (1867 - 1933)

Rhyme of the Land and Sea
Language: English 
By the side of me — the immortal Pan —
Lies the sweetest thing of the sea;
In her gown of brine,
With her breast to mine,
And her drowned dark hair lies she!

And her eyes that have looked on the fathomy weed,
So mournful are fixed on me:
  "I am thy slave, O Master, O Pan!
  And never shall more be free!"

But her smile — like the wine-red, shadowy sea, 
When the day slides past and down —
By the gods, it is tender death to me!
In its waters dark I drown! 
  "O slave of mine! Thou mystery
  Of smiling depths — I drown!"

Confirmed with John Galsworthy, Moods, Songs, & Doggerels, London: William Heinemann, 1912, page 33.


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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2023-07-03
Line count: 15
Word count: 109