' TIDAL POWER
THE sea-anemone, transferred From foam-invaded rocky pool To water by no sea-wave stirred, Long keeps the ocean rule.
What time of day the flood recedes, It closes up its heart ; and still Unravels green or coral threads When distant sea-pools fill: Though far removed from ocean-spell, Obedient to remembered law Expands and coils each tentacle As tides flow and withdraw.
Shall mortals, to a timeless world Transplanted, long awake and sleep As when dawn-banners were unfurled, Or when the night was deep?
Where dominates no beat of Time, Still feel the minutes and the hours Throb in their veins ; still heed the chime
From planetary towers—
Even as these Tide-swayed anemones?
Shall they, at last, full freedom won, From rhythm of turning globes released, No longer droop at set of sun Nor rouse at brightening east ; But, conscious of a wider scheme, Forget the tides of day and night, Forsake the dream Of sun and moon, And gradually move in tune With everlasting Light?
EVA MARTIN.
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