An Ocean Sunrise

                              I.
Like frosted silver in the earth's broad palm 
     The ocean lay, unmoving as the sky, 
     When the sky caught, from morning's opening eye,
Ineffable splendors, and from earth the balm
Of all the flowers whose sweetness was a psalm 
     Sung out by every bird-throat audibly. 
     The soft, warm light reflected from on high
Shed vapory gold on ocean's waveless calm.
Out of the sea the sun rose royally,
     And on the sea its burning image flung, 
     And to the sea that burning image clung.
As the orb climbed in double majesty ;
A fiery isthmus stretched its arm between
Two continents of fire in passing splendor seen.

                              II.
One sun in heaven and one on ocean lay;
     An unseen mist across the upper drew
     A tropic belt that burned with deeper hue;
The bond between thinned, momently, away,
To a tall shaft, as if that light of day
     Were a magnificent lamp the sea-gods drew
     From their deep crypts to fire the world anew,
In beaten gold repeating every ray.
At last the bond was parted, as a breeze
     Came dancing through the morning’s open door;
     Her feet in dimples broke the glassy floor,
And the sun’s image strewed the twinkling seas,
     Crushed by the airy nymphs whose mellow laugh
Chased the thin fragments off like many-colored chaff!