The Englishman and Other Poems

Since love was in my heart.

Before, beyond, above,

Was only Love.

II

Love built me, on a little rock,

A little house of pine,

At first, the Sea
Beat angrily
About that house of mine;
(That dear, dear home of mine).

But when it turned to go away

Beyond the sandy track,

Down o'er its wall
The house would call,
Until the Sea came back;
(It always hurried back).

And now the two have grown so fond,

(Oh, breathe no word of this),

When clouds hang low,
And east winds blow,
They meet and kiss and kiss:
(At night, I hear them kiss).

III

No man can understand the Sea, until
He knows all passions of the senses; all
The great emotions of the heart; and each

Exalted aspiration of the soul.
Then may he sit beside the sea and say:
'I, too, have flung myself against the