There's a grayness over the harbor like fear on the face of a woman, <br />The sob of the waves has a sound akin to a woman's cry, <br />And the deeps beyond the bar are moaning with evil presage <br />Of a storm that will leap from its lair in that dour north-eastern sky. <br /> <br />Slowly the pale mists rise, like ghosts of the sea, in the offing, <br />Creeping all wan and chilly by headland and sunken reef, <br />And a wind is wailing and keening like a lost thing 'mid the islands, <br />Boding of wreck and tempest, plaining of dolor and grief. <br /> <br />Swiftly the boats come homeward, over the grim bar crowding, <br />Like birds that flee to their shelter in hurry and affright, <br />Only the wild grey gulls that love the cloud and the clamor <br />Will dare to tempt the ways of the ravining sea to-night. <br /> <br />But the ship that sailed at the dawning, manned by the lads who love us <br />God help and pity her when the storm is loosed on her track! <br />O women, we pray to-night and keep a vigil of sorrow <br />For those we speed at the dawning and may never welcome back!<br /><br />Lucy Maud Montgomery<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/before-storm/
