Emma Lahana

The Tide Flows

Emma Lahana


on one morning 
in the month of May 
when all the birds 
were singing 

I saw a lovely maiden stray 
across the fields at break of day 
she softly sung her roundelay 

the tide flows in 
the tide flows out 
twice every day returning 

her cheeks were red 
her eyes were brown 
her hair in ringlets hanging down 
upon her face to hide the frown 

just as the tide was a flowing 
the tide flows in 
the tide flows out 
twice everyday returning 

a sailor's wife at home must bide 
she halted heavily she sighed 
"he parted from poor me , a bride 
I'm widowed by the sea" she cried 

just as the tide was a flowing 

the tide flows in 
the tide flows out 
twice every day returning