| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | By the Margin of the Great Deep | | By ‘A. E.’ (George William Russell) (1867–1935) |
| | | WHEN the breath of twilight blows to flame the misty skies, | |
| All its vaporous sapphire, violet glow and silver gleam, | |
| With their magic flood me through the gateway of the eyes; | |
| I am one with the twilight’s dream. | |
| |
| When the trees and skies and fields are one in dusky mood, | 5 |
| Every heart of man is rapt within the mother’s breast: | |
| Full of peace and sleep and dreams in the vasty quietude, | |
| I am one with their hearts at rest. | |
| |
| From our immemorial joys of hearth and home and love | |
| Stray’d away along the margin of the unknown tide, | 10 |
| All its reach of soundless calm can thrill me far above | |
| Word or touch from the lips beside. | |
| |
| Aye, and deep and deep and deeper let me drink and draw | |
| From the olden fountain more than light or peace or dream, | |
| Such primaeval being as o’erfills the heart with awe | 15 |
| Growing one with its silent stream. | | | | |
|
|
