Classic Poem

O cradle of the rising sun, O holy Sea!
O grave of every setting sun, O holy Sea!
O thou in balmy nights outspreading the crystal mirror
Where Luna looks, — a silent nun, — O holy Sea!
O thou in silent midnights chiming, through thy wide realm,
With starry choirs, — sweet unison, — O holy Sea!
The morning's and the evening's red bloom out from thee,
Two roses of thy garden-bed, O holy Sea!
O Amphitrite's panting bosom, whose heaving waves
Now swell, now sink, beneath the moon, O holy Sea!
O Aphrodite's womb maternal! bring forth thy child,
And borrow splendor from thy son, O holy Sea!
Sprinkle the earth's green wreath of spring with pearly dew,
For thine the pearls are, every one, O holy Sea!
The Naiads of the meadows all, that sprang from thee,
Come back as Nereids at thy call, O holy Sea!
The ships of thought sail over thee and sink in thee;
Atlantis rests there, mighty one, O holy Sea!
The beaker of the gods, that fell from high Olympus,
Hangs on the coral-twigs, far down, O holy Sea!
A diver in the sea of love is Freimund's song,
Would show how rich his chosen one, O holy Sea!
My spirit yearneth like the moon to sink in thee;
Forth send me from thee like the sun, O holy Sea!