Anthology of Magazine Verse for 1921/Cliffs

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CLIFFS
I took my longing up a cliff, All alone, I looked on the sea—The surf, spread out like fans of lace Rustled a soft sound up to me,  A gentle sound like sliding beads,  And wind hummed over the weeds.
Long and long ago a cliff Lovers out of luck would leap,And fall to cool their hearts like stones, Or break like waves and fall asleep.  The sea now is the same, I knew,  And any cliff, I thought, would do.
I laid down my frock and frills, I took gold pins from my hair,And tip-toed to the tasselled edge, Whispering a prayer,  That nothing else of me but foam  Should remain to carry home.
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I was a curve of flame in the air! I was a coal that scorched the sea!The spray went up in a steamy cloud, High and hissing over me,  And my body slid out of the blue,  Polished and clean and new.
I shook the bitterness from my eyes, I laughed that I was alive!So now I know I can dare to love As long as I love to dive  And I am not the one to weep,  While there are cliffs to leap.
The North American ReviewWinifred Welles

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