Saltbush Bill, J. P.

Sunrise on the Coast

  Grey dawn on the sand-hills—the night wind has drifted
   All night from the rollers a scent of the sea;
  With the dawn the grey fog his battalions has lifted,
   At the call of the morning they scatter and flee.

  Like mariners calling the roll of their number
   The sea-fowl put out to the infinite deep.
  And far over-head—sinking softly to slumber—
   Worn out by their watching, the stars fall asleep.

  To eastward, where resteth the dome of the skies on
   The sea-line, stirs softly the curtain of night;
  And far from behind the enshrouded horizon
   Comes the voice of a God saying “Let there be light.”

  And lo, there is light!  Evanescent and tender,
   It glows ruby-red where 'twas now ashen-grey;
  And purple and scarlet and gold in its splendour—
   Behold, 'tis that marvel, the birth of a day!