Oh, to see in the night in a May moon's light A nymph from siren caves, With a crown of pearl, sea-gems in each curl Dance down white, star-stained waves!
Oh, to list in the gloam by the pearly foam Of a sad, far-sounding shore The strain of the shell of an ocean belle From caves where the waters roar!
With a hollow shell drift up in the moon To sigh in my ears this ocean tune:— “Wilt follow, wilt follow to caverns hollow, That echo the tumbling spry?
Wilt follow thy queen to islands green, Vague islands of witchery? O follow, follow to grottoes hollow, And isles in a purple sea,
Where rich roses twine and the lush woodbine Weaves a musky canopy!” Oh, to float in the gloam on the bubbly foam With her lily face above!
Oh, to lie in a barque and a wild song hark, And a billow-nymph to love! I'd lie at her feet and my heart should beat To the music of her sighs;
But the stars in her face my passion should trace, Unseen all the stars of the skies. Away, away with the witch of spray To her Aidenn islands far;
And the blue above, drunk-mad with love, Dance down each singing star. Leave, leave to the heaven its morning star In a cloud of bolted snow,
To laugh at the world and herald far Our wedlock and joy below.
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