Page:Pieces People Ask For.djvu/151

Rh 'Tis maddening!—this awful still,
 * Round me in my hollow stone!

Though yonder the glad notes thrill,
 * I hear not, I hear not one!

But out of my terrible silence,
 * I can see these voices yonder,

While over my tugging heart-strings
 * Creep echoes, dearer, fonder.


 * I ache for liberty,
 * Over the far blue sea,

O'er the blue sea so wide! And I hear the angels singing,
 * "Keeping time,
 * In silver rhyme"

With that boat so slowly swinging, On the restless, heaving tide.
 * Ripple, dipple,
 * Plashing, dashing,

The wavelets sleepily lap the shore;
 * Lazily, hazily,
 * Drearily, wearily,

I cling here, listening o'er and o'er—

To the sobbing oozing gurgle
 * Slushing underneath the keel,

And the restless, dipping murmur Which I cannot know by the outward ear, The tide is too far for me to hear, But deep in my soul I feel.

And I see yon boat so slowly swinging: I hear the far-off home-bells ringing,
 * Ringing through my heart!

Sweet bells of home, I must be free: Yon skiff shall bear me o'er the sea,
 * If but these stanchions part!

Then will I dare the tempest's wrath, While seeking out the homeward path,
 * For liberty's dear sake;

And my frail bark shall boldly drift, Where mightier ships have passed, and left
 * Lines of snow-foam in their wake.