A Pagan Hymn

I have drunk the Sea’s good wine, And to-day Care has bowed his head and gone away. I have drunk the Sea’s good wine, Was ever step so light as mine, Was ever heart so gay? Old voices intermingle in my brain, Voices that a little boy might hear, And dreams like fiery sunsets come again, Informulate and vain, But great with glories of the buccaneer. Oh, thanks to thee, great Mother, thanks to thee, For this old joy renewed, For tightened sinew and clear blood imbued With sunlight and with sea. Behold, I sing a pagan song of old, And out of my full heart, Hold forth my hands that so I would enfold The Infinite thou art. What matter all the creeds that come and go, The many gods of men? My blood outcasts them from its joyous flow, And it is now as then⁠— The Pearl of Morning, and the Sapphire Sea, The Diamond of Noon, The Ruby of the Sunset—these shall be My creed, my Deity; And I will take some old forgotten tune, And rhythm frolic-free, And sing in little words thy wondrous boon, O Sunlight and O Sea!