ALL night a noise of leaping fish br Went round the bay, br And up and down the shallow sands br Sang waters at their play. br The mangroves drooped on salty creeks, br And through the dark, br Making a pale patch in the deep, br Gleamed, as it swam, a shark. br In streaks and twists of sudden fire br Among the reeds br The bream went by, and where they passed br The bubbles shone like beads. br All night the full deep drinking-song br Of Nature stirred, br And nought beside, save leaping fish br And some forlorn night-bird. br No lost wind wandered down the hills br To tell of wide br Wild waterways; on velvet moved br The silky, sucking tide. br Deep down there sloped in shadowy mass br A giant hill; br And midway, mirrored in the tide, br The stars burned large and still. br The fisher, dreaming on the rocks, br Heard Nature say br Strange, secret things that none may hear br Upon the beaten way; br And whisperings and wonder stirred, br And hopes and fears, br And sadness touched his heart, and filled br His eyes with star-stained tears: br And so, thrilled through with joy and love br And sweet distress, br He stood entranced, enchained by her br Full-breasted loveliness.