BREAK, long wave, below my feet! br Wind and meet, br Sea-streams that the moon hath shaken! br From the shingle white and bare, br All the air br With sonorous cadence waken! br br From the distance dim and bright, br Gulphed in light, br To the long spent wave that dashes, br All the sea shines through and through br Fiery blue: br When the wind is up, it flashes. br br And the milder heaven above, br Full of love, br Smiles upon the rolling ocean, br Like a woman's heart content br To be spent br And absorbed in sweet devotion. br br Surely Venus through the sea br Clear and free, br Rose on such a morn as this is, br Called her doves about her there, br Heard the air br Murmur through their wings like kisses. br br Out of cold green depths of foam, br Sea-nymphs' home, br To the live air, red with roses, br Came she, clothed about with light, br Warm and white, br Like a moon the mist encloses. br br Like a summer moon whose limbs, br As she swims br Ever up in the pale aether, br Cast their lawny veils aside br Till they hide br Nought from the mad earth beneath her. br br Though no more with reverent eyes, br Sadly wise, br Sea and air to us are holy, br Born too late for gods to bless br We profess br To be disenchanted wholly, br br Though the nymphs are dead, and we br Cannot see, br Plunging in the gulfs of azure, br Long processions, gods in line, br Half divine, br Blowing horns of mellow leisure, br br Yet the old sweet creeds and we br Cannot be br Always so far rent asunder, br Since we feel on such a morn br Life reborn br In the antique world of wonder.