Distância In the noisy street, Where the sifted sunlight yellows the pallid faces, Sudden I close my eyes, and on my eyelids Feel from the far-off sea a cool faint spray, A breath on my cheek, From the tumbling breakers and foam, the hard sand shattered, Gulls in the high wind whistling, flashing waters, Smoke from the flashing waters blown on rocks; And I know once more, O dearly beloved! that all these seas are between us, Tumult and madness, desolate save for the sea-gulls, You on the farther shore, and I in this street. Conrad Aiken --------