Sea Flowers

Far down the rocky chambers of the deep

         That turns to emerald fire the sun’s red gold,

         Unnumbered glories that no seer hath told

Adorn the gardens of bright bloom that keep

Perennial beauty where the land waves leap.

         Jarring the rocks to which their lithe limbs hold.

         Their bowers of living gossamer unfold

With every hue that Iris sheds to steep

         The summer clouds in splendor; yet are these

Of all fair forests the attenuate dream,

         Nurslings of tempest and of wrathful seas;

Lest to the longing soul their wealth might seem

         Till, what the calms have hidden, angry storms

         Fling, scornful, at our feet, in bright dishevelled forms.