Contrasted Songs

"Contrasted Songs" by Marian Longfellow is a poetry collection. The author was the niece of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. She was also the founder of the famous American Society of Pen Women. Excerpt: «A SONG OF THE SEA The mystic sea is singing its golden song to me; I bend to catch its murmur in silent ecstasy; Till, as the music ringeth in sweet and solemn tone, An answering echo waketh a music all mine own! The sea sings softly, softly upon my listening ear, And still its notes fall ever in cadence full and clear. The song that waxeth stronger within my beating heart Seems but a second measure—seems of the sea a part! And far from all the burdens that day brings in its train, My soul hath found Elysium—renews its youth again! I hear the golden billows beat on the rock-bound shore, And still my heart is singing that sweet song o'er and o'er! O happy Youth, how quickly the sands of life have run! The shades of eve are falling ere yet the day is done! The golden sea eternal beats loud and strong and free, And bears upon its bosom a joy eternally!»