Birds that like vanishing visions go winging, <br />White, white in the flame of the sunset's burning, <br />Fly with the wild spray the billows are flinging, <br />Blend, blend with the nightfall, and fade, unreturning! <br />Fire of the heaven, whose splendor all-glowing <br />Soon, soon shall end, and in darkness must perish; <br />Sea-bird and flame-wreath and foam lightly blowing;— <br />Soon, soon tho' we lose you, your beauty we cherish. <br />Visions may vanish, the sweetest, the dearest; <br />Hush'd, hush'd be the voice of love's echo replying; <br />Spirits may leave us that clung to us nearest:— <br />Love, love, only love dwells with us undying!<br /><br />George Parsons Lathrop<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sunset-and-shore/
