Witter Bynner

From “Sea-edge Songs”

THREE times you had neared, I unaware—

My body warm in the sand and bare,

Three times you had hopped your silent track

To the arch of shadow under my back.

And each time, when I had felt you cool

And turned on you and, like a fool,

Prodded your exit from my place,

Sorrow deepened in your face.

You were loth to leave me, though I threw

Handfuls of sand to quicken you.

You would look as you went and blink your eyes

And puff your pale throat with surprise.

Three times you had tried, like someone daft….

Till I thought, too late, that evil craft

Had altered, into what you were,

Some old Chinese philosopher;

Had warted you dank and thwarted you dumb,

And that, given just three times to come

And beg a poet to set you free,

You had put all your faith in me.