SEPTEMBER. 263 



are visible ; groves of coral are seen expanding 

 their variously-coloured clumps, some rigid and 

 immoveable, and others waving gracefully their 

 flexile branches. Shells of every form and hue 

 glide slowly along the stones, or cling to the 

 coral boughs like fruit ; crabs and other marine 

 animals pursue their prey in the crannies of 

 the rocks, and sea-plants spread their limber 

 fronds in gay and gaudy irregularity, while the 

 most beautiful fishes are on every side sporting 

 around. 



The floor is of sand, like the mountain-drift, 



And the pearl-shells spangle the flinty snow : 

 From coral rocks the sea-plants lift 



Their boughs, where the tides and billows flow ; 

 The water is calm and still below, 



For the winds and waves are absent there ; 

 And the sands are bright as the stars that glow 



In the motionless fields of the upper air. 

 There, with its waving blade of green, 



The sea-flag streams through the silent water, 

 And the crimson leaf of the dulse is seen 



To blush like a banner bathed in slaughter ; 

 There with a light and easy motion 



The fan-coral sweeps through the clear deep sea, 

 And the yellow and scarlet tufts of ocean 



Are bending like corn on the upland lea ; 

 And life in rare and beautiful forms 



Is sporting amid those bowers of stone, 

 And is safe when the wrathful spirit of storms 



Has made the top of the waves his own. 



