A Reed by the River/Succession

SUCCESSION
A wild mood from the windy sea,
The thrall of white foam over me,
As if the gods laughed once again,
Dared life to drink of love and pain!

I could have flown to their embrace,
Met Death and mocked him, face to face;—
Mayhap 'twas where old loves had met,
And a dead fisher cast his net.

Within the silence of the wood,
Strange shadow spun its spell and mood;
A power called and baffled where
The hush of mystery filled the air.

Alien, yet one, my steps did seem
To break upon a mighty dream,—
Perchance, beneath my feet, some brave,
The woods' dead sovereign had his grave.