Beach birds, beach birds, flying in to me,
From the wide, blue palaces of your home, the sea,
What have you to tell about, islands green and fair?
Stories of the ships that tramp the trail to Everywhere?
Have you seen a sailor lad dreaming at the wheel?
Have you seen the great sharks flash, white beneath a keel?
Have you seen the savages dancing in a ring?
Have you, on a desert isle, ever seen a king?
Beach birds, beach birds, flying in to me,
In some far, blue palace-hall of your home, the sea,
Will you tell the listening birds how, in a curious land,
Once—you saw a little maid, playing in the sand?