 | Specimens of American poetry |  |
JOHN OSBORN.
120
A WHALING SONG.
When spring returns with western gales,
And gentle breezes sweep
The ruffling seas, we spread our sails
To plough the wat'ry deep.
And gentle breezes sweep
The ruffling seas, we spread our sails
To plough the wat'ry deep.
For killing northern whales prepared,
Our nimble boats on board,
With craft and rum (our chief regard)
And good provisions stored,
Our nimble boats on board,
With craft and rum (our chief regard)
And good provisions stored,
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Cape Cod, our dearest, native land,
We leave astern, and lose
Its sinking cliffs and lessening sands,
While Zephyr gently blows.
We leave astern, and lose
Its sinking cliffs and lessening sands,
While Zephyr gently blows.
Bold, hardy men, with blooming age,
Our sandy shores produce;
With monstrous fish they dare engage,
And dangerous callings choose.
Our sandy shores produce;
With monstrous fish they dare engage,
And dangerous callings choose.
Now towards the early dawning east
We speed our course away,
With eager minds, and joyful hearts,
To meet the rising day.
We speed our course away,
With eager minds, and joyful hearts,
To meet the rising day.
Then as we turn our wondering eyes,
We view one constant show;
Above, around, the circling skies,
The rolling seas below.
We view one constant show;
Above, around, the circling skies,
The rolling seas below.
When eastward, clear of Newfoundland,
We stem the frozen pole.
We see the icy islands stand,
The northern billows roll.
We stem the frozen pole.
We see the icy islands stand,
The northern billows roll.
As to the north we make our way,
Surprising scenes we find;
We lengthen out the tedious day,
And leave the night behind.
Surprising scenes we find;
We lengthen out the tedious day,
And leave the night behind.
Now see the northern regions, where
Eternal winter reigns;
One day and night fills up the year,
And endless cold maintains.
Eternal winter reigns;
One day and night fills up the year,
And endless cold maintains.
We view the monsters of the deep,
Great whales in numerous swarms;
And creatures there, that play and leap,
Of strange, unusual forms.
Great whales in numerous swarms;
And creatures there, that play and leap,
Of strange, unusual forms.
When in our station we are placed,
And whales around us play,
We launch our boats into the main,
And swiftly chase our prey.
And whales around us play,
We launch our boats into the main,
And swiftly chase our prey.
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In haste we ply our nimble oars,
For an assault design'd;
The sea beneath us foams and roars,
And leaves a wake behind.
For an assault design'd;
The sea beneath us foams and roars,
And leaves a wake behind.
A mighty whale we rush upon,
And in our irons throw:
She sinks her monstrous body down
Among the waves belows.
And in our irons throw:
She sinks her monstrous body down
Among the waves belows.
And when she rises out again,
We soon renew the fight;
Thrust our sharp lances in amain,
And all her rage excite.
We soon renew the fight;
Thrust our sharp lances in amain,
And all her rage excite.
Enraged, she makes a mighty bound;
Thick foams the whiten'd sea;
The waves in circles rise around,
And widening roll away.
Thick foams the whiten'd sea;
The waves in circles rise around,
And widening roll away.
She thrashes with her tail around,
And blows her redd'ning breath;
She breaks the air, a deaf'ning sound,
While ocean groans beneath.
And blows her redd'ning breath;
She breaks the air, a deaf'ning sound,
While ocean groans beneath.
From numerous wounds, with crimson flood
She stains the frothy seas,
And gasps, and blows her latest blood,
While quivering life decays.
She stains the frothy seas,
And gasps, and blows her latest blood,
While quivering life decays.
With joyful hearts we see her die,
And on the surface lay;
While all with eager haste apply,
To save our deathful prey.
And on the surface lay;
While all with eager haste apply,
To save our deathful prey.
ELEGIAC EPISTLE,
ADDRESSED TO ONE OF HIS SISTERS ON THE DEATH OF ANOTHER.
Dear sister, see the smiling spring
In all its beauties here;
The groves a thousand pleasures bring,
A thousand grateful scenes appear.
With tender leaves the trees are crown'd,
And scatter'd blossoms all around,
Of various dyes
Salute your eyes,
And cover o'er the speckled ground.
In all its beauties here;
The groves a thousand pleasures bring,
A thousand grateful scenes appear.
With tender leaves the trees are crown'd,
And scatter'd blossoms all around,
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Salute your eyes,
And cover o'er the speckled ground.
Now thickets shade the glassy fountains;
Trees overhang the purling streams;
Whisp'ring breezes brush the mountains,
Grots are fill'd with balmy steams.
Trees overhang the purling streams;
Whisp'ring breezes brush the mountains,
Grots are fill'd with balmy steams.
But, sister, all the sweets that grace
The spring and blooming nature's face;
The chirping birds,
Nor lowing herds;
The woody hills,
Nor murm'ring rills;
The sylvan shades,
Nor flowery meads,
To me their former joys dispense,
Though all their pleasures court my sense.
But melancholy damps my mind,
I lonely walk the field,
With inward sorrow fill'd,
And sigh to every breathing wind.
The spring and blooming nature's face;
The chirping birds,
Nor lowing herds;
The woody hills,
Nor murm'ring rills;
The sylvan shades,
Nor flowery meads,
To me their former joys dispense,
Though all their pleasures court my sense.
But melancholy damps my mind,
I lonely walk the field,
With inward sorrow fill'd,
And sigh to every breathing wind.
I mourn our tender sister's death,
In various plaintive sounds;
While hills above, and vales beneath,
The faltering notes rebound.
In various plaintive sounds;
While hills above, and vales beneath,
The faltering notes rebound.
Perhaps when in the pains of death,
She gasp'd her latest breath,
You saw our pensive friends around,
With tears bedew the ground.
Our loving father stand,
And press her trembling hand,
And gently cry, “My child, adieu!
We all must follow you.”
She gasp'd her latest breath,
You saw our pensive friends around,
With tears bedew the ground.
Our loving father stand,
And press her trembling hand,
And gently cry, “My child, adieu!
We all must follow you.”
Some tender friend did then perhaps arise,
And close her dying eyes:
Her stiffen'd body, cold and pale,
Was then convey'd within the gloomy vale
Of death's unhallow'd shade.
And close her dying eyes:
Her stiffen'd body, cold and pale,
Was then convey'd within the gloomy vale
Of death's unhallow'd shade.
Weak mortals, Oh! how hard our fate;
How sure our death,—how short our date,
How quickly sets our day!
We all are doom'd to lay our heads
Beneath the earth in mournful shades,
To hungry worms a prey.
How sure our death,—how short our date,
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We all are doom'd to lay our heads
Beneath the earth in mournful shades,
To hungry worms a prey.
But, loving sister, let's prepare
With virtue's steady feet,
That we may boldly meet
The rider of the pale horse void of fear.
With virtue's steady feet,
That we may boldly meet
The rider of the pale horse void of fear.
But why should you and I for ever mourn
Our dear relation's death? She 's gone—
We 've wept enough to prove
Our grief and tender love.
Let joy succeed, and smiles appear,
And let us wipe off every tear.
Not always the cold winter lasts,
With snow and storms, and northern blasts.
The raging seas with fury tost,
Not always break and roar;
Sometimes their native anger's lost.
And smooth hush'd waves glide softly to the shore.
Our dear relation's death? She 's gone—
We 've wept enough to prove
Our grief and tender love.
Let joy succeed, and smiles appear,
And let us wipe off every tear.
Not always the cold winter lasts,
With snow and storms, and northern blasts.
The raging seas with fury tost,
Not always break and roar;
Sometimes their native anger's lost.
And smooth hush'd waves glide softly to the shore.
| Specimens of American poetry | |