Thomas Sturge Moore

"Shells with lip, or tooth, or bleeding gum, Tell-tale shells, and shells that whisper 'Come', Shells that stammer, blush, and yet are dumb – " "O let me hear!"

Break free, my soul, good manners are thy tomb!

For milkmaids and queens and gipsy-princesses Dream and kiss blindfold or starve upon guesses.

Then, cleaving the grass, gazelles appear (The gentler dolphins of kindlier waves) With sensitive heads alert of ear; Frail crowds that a delicate hearing saves.