"Union of the Isles" — Poetry on Maury and Vashon Islands

1898

UNION OF THE ISLES

A Legend of Puget Sound

By Mary Bynon Reese

["The Portage" is a small strip of sand uniting Maury and Vashon Islands, and separating Chautauqua Bay and Quartermaster Harbor. The adjacent scenery is exquisite.]

Ages ago, when Time was young
And earth a paradise untrod,
Two isles, to gem an island sea,
Dropped radiant from the hand of God.
Resplendent at Creation's dawn,
They stood together, side by side,
Bold Maury and the fair Vashon,
Expectant lover, waiting bride.

Their pines in recognition swayed,
And friendly zephyrs greeting bore,
But cruel barriers rolled between
That separated shore from shore;
Rude taunting voices of the waves,
Harsh tones that come twixt heart and heart,
Cried: "Ever we shall flow between
And ever you must dwell apart."

Then pitying sands came drifting in,
Nor drifted back, the legend runs,
And day by day, and grain by grain,
They nearer brought those severed ones,
Till tides forgot to flow between,
And shore clasped shore, as heart does heart,
Now sing the isles: — "We two are one,
But you proud waves must dwell apart."

—Steubenville Herald-Star, Steubenville, OH, March 5, 1898, p. 8.

Note: Here's a link to the area.