The Long Long-Drawing Waves Poem by Emmanuel George Cefai

The long long-drawing waves
Foaming and gurgling in their wrath
Across the red sands and gold
I want to hear.

This afternoon
Before the dusk enters its full reign
This scene before me see I must:
And feel
And feel
The thrill
Of the long, long long-drawing waves
Foaming in their wrath and gurgling.

Ah! no chests of gold
And topazes and amulets
Will this face-kissing breeze equivalize:
Ah! my body yearns for the salt reign
Of Neptune: for the seething sea
For the long long-drawing waves
Foaming and gurgling in their wrath
Across the red sands and gold.

And if
I welcome the advent of human company
In other days
In other circumstances
Then here will be the exception:
Alone
Alone
The phial of my happiness
Will flow and over-flow to surfeiting:
For the long long-drawing waves
Foam and seethe in their wrath.

The red sun sets and flushed its shameless face.