<h3 id="The_Seas_Withholding">The Sea’s Withholding</h3>
<p>THE ladye’s bower faced the sea,<br/>
Its casements framed a sea-born day.<br/>
She saw the fishers sail away,<br/>
And, far and high,<br/>
The gulls sweep by<br/>
Within the hollow of the sky!</p>
<p>She saw the laggard twilight come<br/>
And, chased by rippling wakes of foam,<br/>
She saw the fisher fleet come home—<br/>
Brown sails a-sheen<br/>
Against the green<br/>
With shadows creeping in between!</p>
<p>She saw, when it was evening, all<br/>
Day’s banners stream in crimson rout<br/>
Till night’s soft finger blurred them out,<br/>
And, high and far,<br/>
A perfect star<br/>
Shone where the keys of heaven are!</p>
<p>“O far and constant star,” she said,<br/>
“O passing sail, O passing bird,<br/>
O passing day—bring you no word<br/>
Of winds that steer<br/>
His ship a-near?<br/>
Where sails my love that sails not here?</p>
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<p>“The days in splendid pageant pass,<br/>
In lovely peace the nights go by,<br/>
And day and night are sweet; but I—<br/>
I cannot say<br/>
Lo, the bright day!<br/>
Can it be dawn and love away?”</p>
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