To A Wave

BEAUTIFUL, beautiful child of light !
     Born of the sea and the morning's glances ;
Flashing along on your pathway bright,
     When the night flees from the day's advances.

Cradled you lay on the ocean's breast,
     Safe in the arms of the mermaids sleeping ;
Kissed by the zephyr you wake from rest,
     And free as the winds you are onward leaping.

Laughing in love with the joyous day,
     Dancing to music of south winds singing ;
Fearless of ill as a child at play,
     Sunshine and gladness around you flinging.

With crest like a cloud of summer that flings
     Its wealth of gold in the sun's first shining ;
With feet like the shadow of angel wings
     Falling on graves at the day's declining.

Evermore changing, yet ever the same,
     Forward forever, life's lesson learning,
Growing in stature, in beauty and fame,
     Urged by the strength of your heart's deep yearning.

Looking to heaven like a virgin fair,
     Azure and cloud in your pure breast blending ;
Sky blent with sea, till we know not where
     The sea is begun and the sky is ending.

Onward, still on, till your race be o' er,
     Then wayworn, weary and heavy-laden,
Broken-hearted, betrayed on the shore,
     Die with a sigh, like a love-wrecked maiden.  

Written by
John MacMillan


[Born 1819, died 1891.]