RPO -- Robert Browning : Meeting at Night

Robert Browning (1812-1889)

Meeting at Night

1The grey sea and the long black land;

2And the yellow half-moon large and low;

3And the startled little waves that leap

4In fiery ringlets from their sleep,

5As I gain the cove with pushing prow,

6And quench its speed i' the slushy sand.

7Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach;

8Three fields to cross till a farm appears;

9A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch

10And blue spurt of a lighted match,

11And a voice less loud, thro' its joys and fears,

12Than the two hearts beating each to each!

Notes

1] First published in Dramatic Romances and Lyrics, 1845, as "I Night, II Morning," and given the present titles in 1849.
Him (line 3 of Parting) refers to the sun.

Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.

Original text: Robert Browning, Dramatic Romances and Lyrics (1845).
First publication date: 1845
RPO poem editor: F. E. L. Priestley
RP edition: 3RP 3.112.
Recent editing: 2:2001/12/13

Rhyme: abccba

Other poems by Robert Browning