And now the tawny night fell soon,
And there was neither star nor moon;
And yet it seem'd it was not night.
There fell a phosphorescent light,
There rose from white sands and dead men
A soft light, white and fair as when
The Spirit of Jehovah moved
Upon the water's conscious face,
And made it His abiding-place.
O mighty waters unreproved!
Thou deep! where the Jehovah moved
Ere soul of man was called to be!
O seas! that were created not
As man, as earth, as light, as aught
That is. O sea! thou art to me
A terror, death, eternity.