Lo, I have loved thee long, long have I yearned and entreated! br Tell me how I may win thee, tell me how I must woo. br Shall I creep to thy white feet, in guise of a humble lover ? br Shall I croon in mild petition, murmuring vows anew ? br br Shall I stretch my arms unto thee, biding thy maiden coyness, br Under the silver of morning, under the purple of night ? br Taming my ancient rudeness, checking my heady clamor­ br Thus, is it thus I must woo thee, oh, my delight? br br Nay, 'tis no way of the sea thus to be meekly suitor­ br I shall storm thee away with laughter wrapped in my beard of snow, br With the wildest of billows for chords I shall harp thee a song for thy bridal, br A mighty lyric of love that feared not nor would forego! br br With a red-gold wedding ring, mined from the caves of sunset, br Fast shall I bind thy faith to my faith evermore, br And the stars will wait on our pleasure, the great north wind will trumpet br A thunderous marriage march for the nuptials of sea and shore.