The Noontide Calm, I

The azure sky leans on the sea, Inverting its concavity, And in the waveless depths below Re-forms and rolls its cloudy show; For cloud and cloud are piled to shape A mountain here, and there a cape, Until the heavens seem to rest A cheek upon the ocean's breast, And listen, with white lips apart, To catch the beating of its heart. Fathoms deep, oh, fathoms deep, Maid and merman lie asleep; Calm above and calm below; Sheering to the current's flow, Vessels red and vessels brown, Floating, cast a shadow down On the seafolks' coral town.