“Genoa” [poem]

Genoa

Now rouse thee ho. For Genoa straight
We did not for the dawning wait
The stars shone pale on Novis Gate, 1
And on the airy Apennine

1380

Whose towery steeps, with morn elate,

Lay southward in a lengthened line
And we knew, and we knew, and we knew
That from Elba to the Alps 2 oer the seas broad blue a
Where the wild waves wander, and white ripples shine

1385

Looked the cloudy crest of the tall Apennine

From the Torrents barren bed,
Bound by blocks of granite red,
Came the gay Cicadas song
Wheresoeer the dew was dank,

1390

On the tree, the shrub the bank,

All our scorching road along
Came the gay Cicadas song, 3
While beside our path was seen
Of various trees a vista green, &c. b

1395

Into a streamlet looking down

Whose living crystal shot between &.

little space of time
And think how wide the world must be
Across from pole to pole
When ‸

all

that there you look upon

× 80

And is there one remembers not
When first he saw the living deep,

With panting bosom, crimson shot,
Call its soothed billows from their sleep, c
That shout The mo

n, from steep to steep.

1400

When far away to seaward show. d
Her first beams solitary glow. e

hoeʼr thou art, who hast not felt
Thou lovedst to be where seabirds dwelt
To wander on the weary beach

1405

Just on the line the wild waves reach,
Or watch the petrels flit before
The marching tempests warning roar.
And ocean eagles dark and proud,
And white winged ospreys skim the cloud

1410

And if thou neer hast felt as if
The ocean had a mind

Nor

And

held communion with the deep

Nor

And

converse with the wind
When broad black waves before it roll —

1415

I would not think thou hadst a soul.