THIS WAY FOR ROMANCE by BERTON BRALEY

I sat by the edge of the quiet sea
And the little waves came and talked to me;

And one said, "Oh, it's a far, far reach
From where I washed on a coral beach.

"But the spot I left is a place I know,
I'll show you the way if you want to go!"

Then a second wave broke at my feet and said,
"I come from a coast that is bleak and dread,

"Where the gray seals bask and the penguins cry
And the glaciers reach to the iron sky.

"It is very far to that icy floe,
But I'll show you the way if you want to go!"

A third wave spoke, "From the Golden Gate
I've journeyed here round the 'blind Horn's hate.'

"Are you fain for the state where the olives grow?
I'll show you the way if you want to go!"

The fourth wave murmured, "I come to you
From the Indian Ocean, warm and blue,

"I have touched at Java and Singapore
And many another scented shore.

"Do you long for the lands where the poppies blow?
I'll show you the way if you want to go!"

So the wavelets spoke with the rising tide,
But which to heed I couldn't decide.

And while I pondered, a girl went by,
Grace of the West in her head held high,

With a tender warmth to her rose-red mouth
That made me dream of the lazy South.

There was scent of East from her wind-blown hair,
And furs from the North on her shoulders fair;

So I left the wavelets to croon and purr
Their various summons—and followed her!

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