From rim to shimmering rim the sea
Is burnished like chalcedony.
The waves that set their lips to land
Scarce make a murmur on the sand.
The ships appear to poise between
Two voids of opalescent sheen.
Aye, here eternal calm seems set
In bland beatitude, and yet
A single potent hour, aye, less,
Can change this placid loveliness,
And cause, where life smiles fair and fain,
The raging demon death to reign!