 | War-lyrics and other poems |  |
158
AD NAVEM.
How shall we think of thee to-day—
(For still our thoughts to thee must roam)—
Oh, ship! that on the distant sea,
Somewhere, art bringing Charley home?
(For still our thoughts to thee must roam)—
Oh, ship! that on the distant sea,
Somewhere, art bringing Charley home?
In airs of balm, 'mid tropic isles,
Borne slowly on, with sleepy sail—
Or madly plunging, double-reefed,
Against this wild northwestern gale?
Borne slowly on, with sleepy sail—
Or madly plunging, double-reefed,
Against this wild northwestern gale?
This blast that, hurrying o'er the flood,
In turbid waves the causey whelms—
Flings white-caps o'er the shattered pier—
And howls amid these wintry elms.
In turbid waves the causey whelms—
Flings white-caps o'er the shattered pier—
And howls amid these wintry elms.
While he, this very hour perchance,
Slow rocking in his eyrie high,
Reclined, surveys with loving glance
The calm expanse of sea and sky.
Slow rocking in his eyrie high,
Reclined, surveys with loving glance
The calm expanse of sea and sky.
Blow fair and strong, thou southern gale,
The flying Gulf before thee foam!
Fill blithely every stitch of sail
That bears the wanderer to his home.
The flying Gulf before thee foam!
Fill blithely every stitch of sail
That bears the wanderer to his home.
159
And speed the good ship on her way—
Ship! that a freight dost hither bring
More welcome than the flowers of May,
That crown this late and lingering spring.
Ship! that a freight dost hither bring
More welcome than the flowers of May,
That crown this late and lingering spring.
| War-lyrics and other poems | |