The Sea Road

Oh, green curved the hill road and beckoned to my feet, Where the breath of the uplands came drifting fitful-sweet. Moon mist, and cloud mist, and meadows drenched with dew, Fir breath, and fern breath, and hill-winds stealing through To stir the vagrant poppy-blooms that gipsy through the wheat. But nearer and clearer than these there called to me A little, waiting, dune-set road that comrades with the sea. Oh, bright shone the plains’ road in ribbonings of gold, Past lowly cottage casements tucked beneath a green hill’s fold. Peat smoke, and hearth smoke, and toiler’s wayside fire, Wife love, and child’s love, and humble hearts’ desire, Peace and fireside plenty was the tale its windings told. Yet nearer and clearer than these there called to me A small road, dark with juniper, and open to the sea. A little, watchful, sea-wife road unmindful of the gales, All kirtled blue with sunlit waves, and coiffed with speeding sails. Far sail, and near sail, the beating sea-gulls’ wings, Far lands, the near lands, the lullaby she sings, All the ports of all the world are in her whispered tales. Ah, nearer and dearer than all there cries to me, One little, crooning, sunset road set shoulder to the sea.