Sands

The sands of Dee.

O Mary go and call the cattle home,
and call the cattle home,
and call the cattle home
Across the sands of Dee.
The western wind was wild and dank with foam
and all alone went she.


The western tide crept up along the sand,
and o'er and o'er the sand,
and round and round the sand.
As far as the eye could see
The rolling mist came down and hid the land,
and never home came she.

Oh is it weed, or fish, or floating hair-
A tress of golden hair.
a drowned maidens hair
above the nets at sea?
Was never salmon yet that shone so fair
among the stakes of Dee.

They rowed her in across the rolling foam,
the cruel crawling foam
the cruel hungry foam,
to her grave beside the sea:
But still the boatman hear her call the cattle home,
Across the sands of Dee..

Charles Kingsley.