Dolce Far Niente

I     Over the bay as our boat went sailing     Under the skies of Augustine,     Far to the East lay the ocean paling     Under the skies of Augustine.--     There, in the boat as we sat together,     Soft in the glow of the turquoise weather,     Light as the foam or a seagull's feather,     Fair of form and of face serene,     Sweet at my side I felt you lean,     As over the bay our boat went sailing     Under the skies of Augustine. II     Over the bay as our boat went sailing     Under the skies of Augustine,     Pine and palm, to the West, hung, trailing     Under the skies of Augustine.--     Was it the wind that sighed above you?     Was it the wave that whispered of you?     Was it my soul that said "I love you"?     Was it your heart that murmured between,     Answering, shy as a bird unseen?     As over the bay our boat went sailing     Under the skies of Augustine. III     Over the bay as our boat went sailing     Under the skies of Augustine,     Gray and low flew the heron wailing     Under the skies of Augustine.--     Naught was spoken. We watched the simple     Gulls wing past. Your hat's white wimple     Shadowed your eyes. And your lips, a-dimple,     Smiled and seemed from your soul to wean     An inner beauty, an added sheen,     As over the bay our boat went sailing     Under the skies of Augustine. IV     Over the bay as our boat went sailing     Under the skies of Augustine,     Red on the marshes the day flared, failing     Under the skies of Augustine.--     Was it your thought, or the transitory     Gold of the West, like a dreamy story,     Bright on your brow, that I read? the glory     And grace of love, like a rose-crowned queen     Pictured pensive in mind and mien?     As over the bay our boat went sailing     Under the skies of Augustine. V     Over the bay as our boat went sailing     Under the skies of Augustine,     Wan on the waters the mist lay veiling     Under the skies of Augustine.--     Was it the joy that begot the sorrow?--     Joy that was filled with the dreams that borrow     Prescience sad of a far To-morrow,--     There in the Now that was all too keen,     That shadowed the fate that might intervene?     As over the bay our boat went sailing     Under the skies of Augustine. VI     Over the bay as our boat went sailing     Under the skies of Augustine,     The marsh-hen cried and the tide was ailing     Under the skies of Augustine.--     And so we parted. No vows were spoken.     No faith was plighted that might be broken.     But deep in our hearts each bore a token     Of life and of love and of all they mean,     Beautiful, thornless and ever green,     As over the bay our boat went sailing     Under the skies of Augustine.     St. Augustine, Fla.