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258

THE DEPARTURE OF THE PILOT

Written on the Departure of President Daniel C. Gilman from California

Slender spars and snowy wings,
Arrowy hull that cleaves the foam,—

Ye university is likened by ye poet to a ship.


See! the good ship grandly swings
Forth to seek her ocean home.
Thro' the narrow harbor-gate,
Past the rocks that guard the bay,

She is in peril of legislatures


Towards where friendlier billows wait,
Well she holds her stately way.
Angry now the breakers are;
Gleam their white teeth in the sun,

and of ye public.


Where along the shallow bar,
Fierce and high their ridges run.
But the pilot-captain, lo!
How serene in strength is he!

But D. C. G.


Blithe as winds that dawnward blow,
Fresh and fearless as the sea.
259

Now the shifting breezes fail,
Baffling gusts arise and die,

steereth


Shakes and shudders every sail,
Hark! the rocks are roaring nigh.
But the pilot keeps her keel
Where the current runneth fair,

her


Deftly turns the massive wheel
Light as though 't were hung in air.
Hark! the bar on either side!
Hiss of foam, and crash of crest,

into open water.


Trampling feet, and shouts—they glide
Safely out on ocean's breast.
Then the Pilot gives his hand
To his brother, close beside:

He addresseth J. Le C.


“Now 't is thine to take command,
I must back at turn of tide.”
Then the brother-captains true
Grasp each other by the hand,
Bidding cheerily adieu
But a moment as they stand.
Something in the elder's eye
Glimmers—is it but the spray?

And J. Le C. speaketh to


Something—could it be a sigh,
Or a breeze that died away?
260

And quoth he: “O brother brave,
Wisely thou hast steered and well,

D. C. G. &


Now all fair are wind and wave,—
Come and tarry with us still.”
“Wave and wind at last are fair,
Rosy-bright the new-born day,

inviteth him.


Hope and faith are in the air,—
Come and sail with us for aye!”
But the pilot's shallop-prow
Chafes against the vessel's side:

But the overland locomotive snorteth


“Nay, true heart, thy wisdom now
Shall the good ship's fortunes guide.”
“On the morrow they shall launch
Yonder from the Eastern shore,

and Johns Hopkins must be begun.


Yet another vessel, staunch,
Sound as e'er was built before.
“Hopes and prayers upon her wait:
Her deep bosom, grand and free,
Bears a wealth of mystic freight:
I must guide her to the sea.
“But upon our voyage far
We shall meet in other days,

But since both are voyaging after truth and progress


Since the same pure polar star
Shines to beacon both our ways.
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“Far away where favoring gales
Blow from many a spicy beach,

the ships shall sail in sight &


We shall see our shining sails
Nodding friendly, each to each.
“Many a morning that shall dawn
With its radiant prophecy,

be of ye same fleet.


Still shall greet us sailing on—
Comrades on the glorious sea.”
Amen.
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