Page:A New Zealand verse (1906).pdf/129
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Sunset in the Tropics.
93
LIII.
Sunset in the Tropics.
How grandly—when throughout the silent day,
Some ample Day, serene, divine,
Beneath the glowing Line
Our helpless ship had hung as in a trance
In light-blue glassiness of calm that lay
A wide expanse
Encircled by soft depths of ether clear,
Whose melting azure seemed to swim
Surcharged and saturate with balmiest brilliancy—
How grandly solemn was the Day’s decline!
Down as if wholly dropped from out the sky
The fallen Sun’s great disc would lolling lie
Upon the narrowed Ocean’s very rim,
Awfully near!
A hush of expectation almost grim
Wrapt all the pure, blank, empty hemisphere;
While straight across the gleaming crimson floor,
From the unmoving Ship’s black burnished side,
There ran a golden pathway right into the core
Of all that throbbing splendour violet-dyed;
Whither it seemed an easy task to follow
The liquid ripples tremblingly o’erflowing
Into the intense and blinding hollow
Of palpitating purple, showing
The way as through an open door
Into some world of burning bliss, undreamt of heretofore.
Whose heart would not have swelled, the while
Deep adoration and delight came o’er him
At that stupendous mystery, close before him!
Not less, but more stupendous that he knew
Perchance, whate’er the subtle surface-play
Some ample Day, serene, divine,
Beneath the glowing Line
Our helpless ship had hung as in a trance
In light-blue glassiness of calm that lay
A wide expanse
Encircled by soft depths of ether clear,
Whose melting azure seemed to swim
Surcharged and saturate with balmiest brilliancy—
How grandly solemn was the Day’s decline!
Down as if wholly dropped from out the sky
The fallen Sun’s great disc would lolling lie
Upon the narrowed Ocean’s very rim,
Awfully near!
A hush of expectation almost grim
Wrapt all the pure, blank, empty hemisphere;
While straight across the gleaming crimson floor,
From the unmoving Ship’s black burnished side,
There ran a golden pathway right into the core
Of all that throbbing splendour violet-dyed;
Whither it seemed an easy task to follow
The liquid ripples tremblingly o’erflowing
Into the intense and blinding hollow
Of palpitating purple, showing
The way as through an open door
Into some world of burning bliss, undreamt of heretofore.
Whose heart would not have swelled, the while
Deep adoration and delight came o’er him
At that stupendous mystery, close before him!
Not less, but more stupendous that he knew
Perchance, whate’er the subtle surface-play