Classic Poem

I KNOW a throne a queen might own,
The sovran lady of sea and air —
Her kingdom lies before her eyes,
And all so fair, and all so fair.

The billows leap against the steep,
The granite rocks are fast and sure,
The billows leap from their mother deep,
Strong from the strong, pure from the pure.

Deep blue on blue the shadows flew,
Each ripple shot his radiant shaft;
In joyous love to his lord above
The faithful sea looked up and laughed.

Headland and isle for mile on mile
Rock-buttressed, fringed the blue with foam,
And hill and vale to the coming sail
Bade a sunny welcome home.

And free and brave as the ocean wave,
Strong as the rock, fresh as the air,
And pure and bright as the midday light
The Queen herself was throned there.