 | A Dream |  |
148
WRECKED ON THE SEA.
I hailed a sail on the bounding lea,The ship in full sail bore down toward me.
I'd seen the ship there gleaming afar,
With its sharp cut prow and its glittering spar.
In loud, clear joy the crew all sang,
The nearer they hove the louder it rang.
Lo, I'd been wrecked and here was my hope,
And I beckoned the captain to cast me a rope.
“Oh, take me away from this desolate isle,
And give me the world for a little while.
I'm weary of thought, from the world all alone,
With nothing save care that I call my own—
I'm weary of all that is logic and rule,
I'm an outcast alone as a self-made fool,
And there is the wreck of my shattered craft
At which many a man has pointed and laughed.
Though wise men look sad, they sail on by
With a voice full of praise, but a doubt in their eye,
And all alone in this desolate isle,
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I wanted to sail on the mighty main
And the sight of my wreck has maddened my brain.
Oh, take me away from this desolate isle!
Oh, take me aboard for a little while!
Oh take me back to revel in joy,
That shines in the world with a sterling alloy.”
But the captain looked down and shook his head,
And my heart like an anchor sank back in its bed
As if rust and ruin had eaten the chain,
And snapped my cable of hope in twain.
The captain spake: 'twas thus said he—
“This bark of mine on the foamy sea,
Was built by my hand and alone by me,
And thrice was I wrecked on the billows of life;
But I built again in sorrow and strife,
And now I sail on the foamy crest,
'Mid the praises and songs of the souls that are blest.
Full many will ride and sing with the gale,
If you build the boat and spread the sail.
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And build again to a stronger deck.
Then raise aloft the stout, straight spar,
And put to sea with a guiding star.
Again start out on the foamy main,
If wrecked or floundered build again,
And it may be you will sail by me,
On the bounding waves of the foamy sea.
It 's life to sail and it 's life to wreck,
That others may learn from the worth of your deck.
There's a million of ships in a watery grave,
To the hundred which rally the bounding wave.”
'Twas thus he spake and sailed away,
At the fall of the eve, at the close of the day.
Then I sighed o'er my wreck, ah woe is me,
And I watched the sail as it put to sea,
Again they burst into mirthful song,
And sang with a will that was loud and strong.
Farther and farther the salt sea air
Bore back their joy to my dark despair—
Fainter and fainter the nearby spray,
Drowned his song as he sailed away.
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Till it blended lost with a distant star.
Then up I sprang, I'll build once more,
A ship that will sail from this desolate shore,
I'll sail the seas from realm to realm!
And I dragged from my wreck my still whole helm.
Then I placed my helm full straight with the gleam,
Of the star that shone with its dazzling beam,
And night and day, and day and night
I shaped my ship and planned my flight.
At last my spar to the deck I raised,
Then on my full-rigged ship I gazed,
And I'll weigh my anchor, spread my sail,
When I feel the breath of the coming gale.
| A Dream | |