Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.
By HermanMelville388 Crossing the Tropics
W
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.
And thee, from thee, they steadfast waft.
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.
My heart it streams in wake astern.
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
Love, love, it is as death were past!