| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 388. Crossing the Tropics |
| | | By Herman Melville |
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| WHILE now the Pole Star sinks from sight | |
| The Southern Cross it climbs the sky; | |
| But losing thee, my love, my light, | |
| O bride but for one bridal night, | |
| The loss no rising joys supply. | 5 |
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| Love, love, the Trade Winds urge abaft, | |
| And thee, from thee, they steadfast waft. | |
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| By day the blue and silver sea | |
| And chime of waters blandly fanned,— | |
| Nor these, nor Gama’s stars to me | 10 |
| May yield delight, since still for thee | |
| I long as Gama longed for land. | |
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| I yearn, I yearn, reverting turn, | |
| My heart it streams in wake astern. | |
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| When, cut by slanting sleet, we swoop | 15 |
| Where raves the world’s inverted year, | |
| If roses all your porch shall loop, | |
| Not less your heart for me will droop, | |
| Doubling the world’s last outpost drear | |
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| O love, O love, these oceans vast: | 20 |
| Love, love, it is as death were past! | |
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