World's Best Poetry, Volume 9: Tragedy and Humor (Part 1) — The Sea by Eva L. Ogden

WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER.

THE SEA.

She was rich and of high degree;

A poor and unknown artist he.

"Paint me," she said, "a view of the sea."

So he painted the sea as it looked the day That Aphroditè arose from its spray;

And it broke, as she gazed on its face the while, Into its countless-dimpled smile.

"What a poky, stupid picture!"

said she: "I don't believe he _can_ paint the sea!"

Then he painted a raging, tossing sea, Storming, with fierce and sudden shock, A towering, mighty fastness-rock;-- In its sides, above those leaping crests, The thronging sea-birds built their nests.

"What a disagreeable daub!"

said she: "Why, it isn't anything like the sea!"

Then he painted a stretch of hot brown sand, With a big hotel on either hand, And a handsome pavilion for the band;-- Not a sign of water to be seen, Except one faint little streak of green.

"What a perfectly exquisite picture!"

said she: "It's the very _image_ of the sea!"

EVA L.

OGDEN.

THE PROUD MISS MACBRIDE.