  I. Away from Howth into the south A stanch brave ship left harbor-mouth. The Easter Bell, all sails a-swell, Gallantly swept to sea they tell, And Nora flamed like one ashamed, When her fair sailor-man they named. II. Three moons did heap the cresting deep Since Nora Lee was wed at Dreep. Up from the dim grey ocean's rim No tidings came of ship, or him. A sea-gull's wing would make her sing, And eye with smiles her wedding-ring. If signal high flew in the sky, She knew the Easter Bell was nigh, And pulled a rose, as wife that knows Her good man cometh at the close. The white ship came—'twas not the name! And Nora Lee was not the same. III. The kraken grim, in dream, did swim Beside the Easter Bell, and him. The ocean swell and harbor bell Chimed in an endless passing knell. In gleaming green of breaker's sheen, The pallid light of death was seen. The shaping clouds, the mist, like shrouds, Floated in ever-thickening crowds,— Till piping wind her blood did bind, Froze by the phantoms of the mind. IV. "Cheer up, good wife," the neighbors rife Said all, "the Bell has charmËd life. "Brave Captain Head, no dawn a-red In vain e'er signaled him, 'tis said. "Of all this town, from foot to crown No sailor has so just renown. "The winds that blow, the reefs that grow, Each one by heart he'd know, he'd know. "Some night full soon, or morn, or noon, The Bell will fly her home gossoon!" V. The days they came and went the same, The moons, the tides, the mists, the flame. And Nora said: "Since I was wed Six moons the heaping tides have led. "In gloom I pine—(love makes him mine, Alive or dead)—I'll throw the line!" VI. She pulled a rose, as wife that knows Her good man cometh at the close. Three neighbors true with her she drew To the grey shore, and, calling, threw, With passionate leap, far to the deep, The life-line good wives always keep— "O Mike, my man, my dear good man! The line, the line, my dear good man!" (Calling so sore adown the shore, As fell the wintry surge's roar.) Across the line of foaming brine, Low answer came that lit her eyne. ******* The neighbors three with Nora Lee All heard the words from out the sea, Yet none e'er said what past the wed,— A fearsome awe o'er them was spread. VII. When next moon fell, the Easter Bell Sailed into harbor, as they tell, With silk "gossoon" astream aboon— And Nora in her calm did croon, And softly tell: "I knew it well, His head it tosseth with weed and shell." |
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