Fair hero, brave hero of sea—
The sea in its darkness of wrath!
I run down the breaker with thee,
I mount the next in its path.
Our hearts beat together, charmed one,
Lift their wings as fearless as free,
Ride the gloom as if 'twere the sun
Gold-bridled for you and for me.
Summer rain, the cold drifting sleet
That whistles as spiteful as hail!
A roadstead, the billows that fleet
Under the black lash of the gale!
We laugh at their seething, their roar,
Draw our breath full in their face;
We have wings, we know we can soar,—
Your secret and mine in embrace!
(Wings, wings, the soul of our life!
Outspread they victory tell,—
Upliftings amid gulfs of strife,
Wafts of heaven that keep us from hell!)
Brave hero, winged hero of sea—
The sea with black tempest in breast,
Here we mount on the breakers, free,
Soon to soar into calm, into rest!