This little poem is taken from Mr. Keep's book on 

 ''Shells and Sea-Life,'' published in JUOl, and was 

 read at his funeral in Pacific Grove, July 29, 1011. 

 His remains rest there in the little cemetery, in 

 sight of the blue sea he loved so ivell, and which he 

 had so often visited during the last thirty-three 

 years. A. C. K. 



THE SEA 



I. 



THE broai blue sea, 

 It has charms for me; 

 For I love to stand 

 On its rim of sand, 

 And look far off where its great waves rise, 

 As if tliey were mounting- up into the skies; 

 Then t^ee them break into foamy spray, 

 Leaving patclies of snow as tliey melt away. 



II- 



O, the broad blue sea. 

 It has charms for me; 

 For 1 love to hear 

 Its music so clear, 

 When the thundering bass of its breakers roars, 

 As its billows dash on the rock-bound shores. 

 And the wavelets answer with melody sweet. 

 As tliey die on the sands that lie at my feet. 



III. 



O, the broad blue sea. 

 It has charms for me; 

 For I love to explore 

 The caves of its shore, 

 To gather its mos?es and pebbles and shells. 

 To note the rich bower where the fair sea-nymph dwells; 

 While from each living creature there rises a call 

 To praise the great Giver of life unto all. 



IV. 



O, the broad blue sea. 

 It has charms for me; 

 For I love to dream 

 Of islands that seem 

 Like beautiful regions far out in the west. 

 Where frosts never bliglit, and all nature is blest; 

 Till 1 long to set sail, with tlie red setting sun. 

 And find on their shores a new life begun. 



V. 



O, the broad blue sea, 

 It has charms for me; 

 For I love to believe 

 That I yet shall perceive 

 New sources of power revealed by its waves. 

 New lessons of wisdom and life in its caves; 



And the voice of tlie sea shall grow sweeter each day, 

 Till the voices of earth shall all fade away. 



