The Poetry Corner

Beside The Idle Summer Sea

By William Ernest Henley

Beside the idle summer sea And in the vacant summer days, Light Love came fluting down the ways, Where you were loitering with me. Who has not welcomed, even as we, That jocund minstrel and his lays Beside the idle summer sea And in the vacant summer days? We listened, we were fancy-free; And lo! in terror and amaze We stood alone--alone at gaze With an implacable memory Beside the idle summer sea.