The Gardens Of The Sea

Where gorgeous flowers of chrysoprase In songless meadows bared their blooms, The deep’s unweariable looms With shifting splendors lured the gaze.

And zoned on iridescent sands, Pellucid glories came and went-- Silver and scarlet madly blent In living stars and blazoned bands.

Hydras of emerald and blue Were part of swaying tapestries Whose woof from ivies of the seas Stole each inquietude of hue.

And in those royal halls lay lost The oriflammes and golden oars Of argosies from lyric shores-- ’Mid glimmering crowns and croziers tost.

And purple poppies vespertine Glowed on the weird and sunken ledge, Beyond whose rich, vermillion edge Rose tentacles from shapes unseen--

Undulant bronze and glossy toils That shuddered in the lustrous tide And forms in restless crimson dyed That caught the light in stealthy coils....

Far down we gazed, nor dared to dream What final sorceries would be When in those gardens of the sea The lilies of the moon should gleam.