THE CHANGELING

"Ahoy, and ahoy!" 'Twixt mocking and merry— "Ahoy and ahoy, there, Young man of the ferry!" She stood on the steps In the watery gloom— That Changeling—"Ahoy, there!" She called him to come. He came on the green wave, He came on the grey, Where stooped that sweet lady That still summer's day. He fell in a dream Of her beautiful face, As she sat on the thwart And smiled in her place. No echo his oar woke, Float silent did they, Past low-grazing cattle In the sweet of the hay. And still in a dream At her beauty sat he, Drifting stern foremost Down—down to the sea. Come you, then: call, When the twilight apace Brings shadow to brood On the loveliest face; You shall hear o'er the water Ring faint in the grey— "Ahoy, and ahoy, there!" And tremble away; "Ahoy, and ahoy!..." And tremble away.