Read "Crossing the Tropics (Sea Pieces)" by Herman Melville online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
From "The Saya-y-Manto. "
While now the Pole Star sinks from sight / The Southern Cross it climbs the sky; / But losing thee, my love, my light, / O bride but for one bridal night, / The loss no rising joys supply.
Love, love, the Trade Winds urge abaft, / And thee, from thee, they steadfast waft.
By day the blue and silver sea / And chime of waters blandly fanned- / Nor these, nor Gama's stars to me / May yield delight since still for thee / I long as Gama longed for land.
I yearn, I yearn, reverting turn, / My heart it streams in wake astern / When, cut by slanting sleet, we swoop / Where raves the world's inverted year, / If roses all your porch shall loop, / Not less your heart for me will droop / Doubling the world's last outpost drear.
O love, O love, these oceans vast: / Love, love, it is as death were past!