 | Irish Poems |  |
65
THE GREAT ADVENTURE
To Ian Grant, R.N.
The sailor now is safe at home.
Amid the fields he sighs
For salt-sweet of the driven foam
Upon his lips and eyes.
Amid the fields he sighs
For salt-sweet of the driven foam
Upon his lips and eyes.
For now he takes his voyages
Around his room and goes
Far as the corner where the bees
Hum in the guelder rose.
Around his room and goes
Far as the corner where the bees
Hum in the guelder rose.
A belt of woodland hems him in,
Mid miles of trees he craves
For one clear sweep of the winds keen
Over a world of waves.
Mid miles of trees he craves
For one clear sweep of the winds keen
Over a world of waves.
No more he'll hear the great winds roar.
He shall lie snug and warm,
Who roamed the world from Labrador
Down to the Cape of Storm.
He shall lie snug and warm,
Who roamed the world from Labrador
Down to the Cape of Storm.
66
Beside his bed, idle at last
His chart, his compass liè:
But he has seas untravelled, vast,
And a chart to sail them by.
His chart, his compass liè:
But he has seas untravelled, vast,
And a chart to sail them by.
He takes his Bible in his hands—
What gates are opening wide
To wonderful seas, untrodden lands,
With Christ Himself for guide?
What gates are opening wide
To wonderful seas, untrodden lands,
With Christ Himself for guide?
He hears again the plash of oars;
A boat's beside the quay:
Like the great captains he adores
He sails and sails away.
A boat's beside the quay:
Like the great captains he adores
He sails and sails away.
His seas are strewn with moon and stars;
The land he sails to find
Welcomes the veteran from Christ's wars
Sped on a favouring wind.
The land he sails to find
Welcomes the veteran from Christ's wars
Sped on a favouring wind.
Who loved o'er mortal seas to range,—
But there's an end of all—
He sails the seas will never change
With Christ for Admiral.
But there's an end of all—
He sails the seas will never change
With Christ for Admiral.
67
O what are ships of armour bright
That lurking foes undo
To the winged ships are in his sight
Manned by a heaven-bound crew?
That lurking foes undo
To the winged ships are in his sight
Manned by a heaven-bound crew?
(There is one verse he will not read—
His glasses aye are dim—
If there were no more sea indeed
What lonesome heaven for him!)
His glasses aye are dim—
If there were no more sea indeed
What lonesome heaven for him!)
His old head droops upon his breast,
His eyes scarce see the page.
His last adventure and his best
Falls to his weary age.
His eyes scarce see the page.
His last adventure and his best
Falls to his weary age.
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