TAMPA BAY.
[Named by De Soto, on Ash Wednesday, " Santo Esperitu."]
A pulseless sea of summers never ending,
Where suns eternal shine,
And clouds, like priests the altar steps ascending,
Baptisms bring divine —
"Santo Esperitu."
While half the sky a roof of gold is shining,
And curtaining clouds hang low,
The distant pines the far horizons lining,
Burn in the afterglow —
"Santo Esperitu."
The white sails dip as in a world of dreaming,
Then right and slowly drift,
And clouds of ibis, in the red light gleaming,
Their silver wings uplift —
"Santo Esperitu."
The sun is liquid in the morn and even,
An altar flame at noon,
And like the shadow of the gate of heaven
Falls on the sea the moon —
"Santo Esperitu."
The Spanish voyager thrilled as on he drifted,
Past shores of ghostly woods,
O'er which, like crowns, the airy palms seemed lifted,
O'er floral seas and floods —
"Santo Esperitu."
The vision raised his soul devout toward heaven,
Parted his lips; what name
Should be to such a placid sun sea given,
And breathed for aye to fame? —
"Santo Esperitu."
The words were spoken; 'twas well! O sea, inherit
The name the voyager gave!
And long recall the light within his spirit
Who saw God on the wave —
"Santo Esperitu."