A SEA SCENE
Reading edition
From rim to shimmering rim the sea Is burnished like chalcedony. The waves that set their lips to land Scarce make a murmur on the sand. The ships appear to poise between Two voids of opalescent sheen. Aye, here eternal calm seems set In bland beatitude, and yet A single potent hour, aye, less, Can change this placid loveliness, And cause, where life smiles fair and fain, The raging demon death to reign!