Last night I lay beside the waves, and heard
A thrush among the oak-trees on the cliff-top;
And, as I dreamed, to me
The trilling of the bird
Was life's voice happily
Threading the mazy music of dark waters.

To-night I sit among the crowd, and hear
A jazz-band braying a barbaric two-step;
And through the strident strife
My blood sings hot and clear —
This, also, this is life,
Life dancing desperately beside dark waters!