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1894
I SENT a message to my dear— | |
| A thousand leagues and more to Her— | |
| The dumb sea-levels thrilled to hear, | |
| And Lost Atlantis bore to Her! | |
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| Behind my message hard I came, | 5 |
| And nigh had found a grave for me; | |
| But that I launched of steel and flame | |
| Did war against the wave for me. | |
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| Uprose the deep, in gale on gale, | |
| To bid me change my mind again— | 10 |
| He broke his teeth along my rail, | |
| And, roaring, swung behind again. | |
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| I stayed the sun at noon to tell | |
| My way across the waste of it; | |
| I read the storm before it fell | 15 |
| And made the better haste of it. | |
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| Afar, I hailed the land at night— | |
| The towers I built had heard of me— | |
| And, ere my rocket reached its height, | |
| Had flashed my Love the word of me. | 20 |
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| Earth sold her chosen men of strength | |
| (They lived and strove and died for me) | |
| To drive my road a nation’s length, | |
| And toss the miles aside for me. | |
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| I snatched their toil to serve my needs— | 25 |
| Too slow their fleetest flew for me. | |
| I tired twenty smoking steeds, | |
| And bade them bait a new for me. | |
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| I sent the Lightnings forth to see | |
| Where hour by hour She waited me. | 30 |
| Among ten million one was She, | |
| And surely all men hated me! | |
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| Dawn ran to meet me at my goal— | |
| Ah, day no tongue shall tell again! | |
| And little folk of little soul | 35 |
| Rose up to buy and sell again! | |
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