Unknown to you, I walk the cheerless shore. br The cutting blast, the hurl of biting brine br May freeze, and still, and bind the waves at war, br Ere you will ever know, O! Heart of mine, br That I have sought, reflected in the blue br Of these sea depths, some shadow of your eyes; br Have hoped the laughing waves would sing of you, br But this is all my starving sight descries-- br br I br br Far out at sea a sail br Bends to the freshening breeze, br Yields to the rising gale br That sweeps the seas; br br II br br Yields, as a bird wind-tossed, br To saltish waves that fling br Their spray, whose rime and frost br Like crystals cling br br III br br To canvas, mast and spar, br Till, gleaming like a gem, br She sinks beyond the far br Horizon's hem. br br IV br br Lost to my longing sight, br And nothing left to me br Save an oncoming night,-- br An empty sea.