Clinton Scollard

A Sea Scene

  From rim to shimmering rim the sea
  Is burnished like chalcedony.

  The waves that set their lips to land
  Scarce make a murmur on the sand.

  The ships appear to poise between
  Two voids of opalescent sheen.

  Aye, here eternal calm seems set
  In bland beatitude, and yet

  A single potent hour, aye, less,
  Can change this placid loveliness,

  And cause, where life smiles fair and fain,
  The raging demon death to reign!