Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
America: Vols. XXV–XXIX. 1876–79. | | | | New England: Block Island (Manisees), R. I. | | The Island | | Richard Henry Dana (1787–1879) |
| | (From The Buccaneer)
THE ISLAND lies nine leagues away. | |
| Along its solitary shore, | |
| Of craggy rock and sandy bay, | |
| No sound but ocean’s roar, | |
| Save where the bold, wild sea-bird makes her home, | 5 |
| Her shrill cry coming through the sparkling foam. | |
| |
| But when the light winds lie at rest, | |
| And on the glassy, heaving sea, | |
| The black duck, with her glossy breast, | |
| Sits swinging silently, | 10 |
| How beautiful! no ripples break the reach, | |
| And silvery waves go noiseless up the beach. | |
| |
| And inland rests the green, warm dell; | |
| The brook comes tinkling down its side; | |
| From out the trees the sabbath bell | 15 |
| Rings cheerful, far and wide, | |
| Mingling its sounds with bleatings of the flocks, | |
| That feed about the vale amongst the rocks. | |
| |
| Nor holy bell nor pastoral bleat | |
| In former days within the vale; | 20 |
| Flapped in the bay the pirate’s sheet; | |
| Curses were on the gale; | |
| Rich goods lay on the sand, and murdered men; | |
| Pirate and wrecker kept their revels then. | | | | |
|
|
