William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. (1878–1962). Anthology of Massachusetts Poets. 1922.

With Waves and Wings

WAVES and Wings and Growing Things!

As through the gladden sight ye flow

And flit and glow,

Ye win me so

In soul to go,

I too am waves, I too am wings,

And kindred motion in me springs.

With thee I pass, glad growing grass!—

I climb the air with lissome mien;

Unsheathing keen

The vivid sheen

Of springing green,

I thrill the crude, exalt the crass

Fine-flex’d and fluent from Earth’s mass.

And impulse craves with thee, Sea Waves!—

To make all mutable the floor

Of Earth’s firm shore,

With flashing pour

Whose brimming o’er

Impassion’d motion loves and laves

And livens sombre slumbering caves.

Then soaring where the wild birds fare,

My song would sweep the windy lyre

Of Heaven’s choir,

Pulsing desire

For starry fire,

Abashing chilling vagues of air

With throbbing of warm breasts that dare!