Classic Poem

The waves come walkin' up the sand;
" Weep! Weep! " and " Hush! " along the shore,
Frettin' and teasin' at the land,
And rollin' up the smooth brown floor,
Frettin' and sayin' things galore.

One night in June I left the ties
And made a fire to boil some tea
Down on the beach; a paradise,
With nothin' 'round to bother me
Except the talkin' of the sea.

The stars were blinkin' big and still;
The drift-wood fire was snappin' bright;
The moon, back of me on the hill,
Was flirtin' with the summer night,
Just a-pertendin' to make light.

I had the makings and I smoked
And wondered over different things,
Thinkin' as how this old world joked
In callin' only some men kings
While I sat there a-blowin' rings.

Me? I was king of anywhere,
Peggin' away at nothing, hard.
Havin' no pet, partic'lar care;
Havin' no trouble, or no pard;
" Just me, " filled up my callin' card.

The waves come walkin' up the sand;
" Weep! Weep! " and " Hush! " along the shore;
Fumin' and frettin' at the land,
And rollin' something up the floor;
Frettin' and sayin' things galore.

Something — The moon was growin' bright
And cold and high and big and round —
Something that floated limp and white;
Something I wish'd I had n't found,
A woman in the moonlight, drowned!

And then I saw that she was young;
Was pretty-dressed and not long dead.
Her hair was black and thick and hung
Just like a cloth wound round her head.
" Weep! weep! " and " Hush! " the ocean said.

No storm had lately been that June;
There was no sign of wreck or boat,
But shinin' in the rising moon
I saw a locket on her throat,
And in the locket was a note.

The note I read close to the flame;
— The fire with some fresh wood I fed —
Just one word, and below, a name;
— Close to the fire a dancin' red —
One word, " Good-bye " the locket said.

I thought I knew her story then,
For she was pretty-like and sweet;
" Good-bye " I stooped and read again;
I crossed her hands and made her neat;
Then shakin' I got on my feet.

I might 'a' lefTher there for such
As come and stare to see next day;
But thinks I, I can do this much;
I'll hide her from what folks will say,
Guessin' at why she went away.

I buried her there in the sand.
" Good-bye " I said for her once more.
I left the locket in her hand;
The waves were saying things galore;
" Weep! Weep! " and " Hush! " along the shore.