When at evening smothered lightnings
Burn the clouds with fretted fires;
When the stars forget to glisten,
And the winds refuse to listen
To the song of my desires,
Oh, my love, unto thee!
When the livid breakers angered
Churn against my stormy tower;
When the petrel flying faster
Brings an omen to the master
Of his vessel's fated hour —
Oh, the reefs! ah, the sea!
Then I climb the climbing stairway,
Turn the light across the storm;
You are watching, fisher-maiden
For the token-flashes laden
With a love death could not harm —
Lo, they come, swift and free!
One — that means, “I think of thee!”
Two — “I swear me thine!”
Three — Ah, hear me tho’ you sleep!—
Is, that I know thee mine!
Thro’ the darkness, One, Two, Three,
All the night they sweep:
Thro’ raging darkness o'er the deep,
One — and Two — and Three.