Drifting

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 45383 *** DRIFTING By T. Buchanan Read. Illustrated From Designs By Miss L. B. Humphrey Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1881. DRIFTING. [Illustration: 0019] |MY soul to-day Is far away Sailing the Vesuvian Bay; My wingéd boat, A bird afloat, Swims round the purple peaks remote:-- |ROUND purple peaks It sails, and seeks Blue inlets and their crystal creeks, Where high rocks throw, Through deeps below, A duplicated golden glow. [Illustration: 0023] [Illustration: 0025] |FAR, vague, and dim, The mountains swim; While on Vesuvius' misty brim, With outstretched hands, The gray smoke stands O'erlooking the volcanic lands. |IN lofty lines, 'Mid palms and pines, And olives, aloes, elms, and vines, Sorrento swings On sunset wings, Where Tasso's spirit soars and sings. [Illustration: 0029] [Illustration: 0031] |I HEED not, if My rippling skiff Float swift or slow from cliff to cliff;-- With dreamful eyes My spirit lies Under the walls of Paradise. Under the walls Where swells and falls The Bay's deep breast at intervals. [Illustration: 0033] At peace I lie, Blown softly by, A cloud upon this liquid sky. The day, so mild, Is Heaven's own child, With Earth and Ocean reconciled;-- The airs I feel Around me steal Are murmuring to the murmuring keel. |OVER the rail My hand I trail Within the shadow of the sail, A joy intense, The cooling sense Glides down my drowsy indolence. [Illustration: 0037] [Illustration: 0039] [Illustration: 0041] |THE fisher's child, With tresses wild, Unto the smooth, bright sand beguiled, With glowing lips Sings as she skips, Or gazes at the far-off ships. [Illustration: 0045] [Illustration: 0047] [Illustration: 0049] [Illustration: 0051] |HAPPY ship, To rise and dip, With the blue crystal at your lip! O happy crew, My heart with you anew! |NO more, no more The worldly shore Upbraids me with its loud uproar With dreamful eyes My spirit lies Under the walls of Paradise! [Illustration: 0055] End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Drifting, by T. Buchanan Read *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 45383 ***