 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
MY SHIP AT SEA.
I waited long with wistful sighing
For that good ship afar at sea
With sails all set and ensign flying,
And laden deep with wealth for me.
And oft amid my weary labor
And fading hopes and prospects drear,
I said to kinsman, friend, or neighbor—
“Ah! would my ship were only here!”
For that good ship afar at sea
With sails all set and ensign flying,
And laden deep with wealth for me.
And oft amid my weary labor
And fading hopes and prospects drear,
I said to kinsman, friend, or neighbor—
“Ah! would my ship were only here!”
With courage that the present seizes,
And makes its confidence a fort,
I waited till the favoring breezes
Should bring my vessel into port.
I knew the ship was merely drifting
Upon some current, distant far,
Where winds uncertain are and shifting,
As winds upon the ocean are.
And makes its confidence a fort,
I waited till the favoring breezes
Should bring my vessel into port.
572
Upon some current, distant far,
Where winds uncertain are and shifting,
As winds upon the ocean are.
It came at last, and richly freighted;
It brought the treasure of my life—
'Twas not in vain so long I waited—
It brought my young and gentle wife.
Then life was filled with placid pleasure
I had not dreamed on earth could be—
Ah! noble barque, that brought such treasure
From lands before unknown to me.
It brought the treasure of my life—
'Twas not in vain so long I waited—
It brought my young and gentle wife.
Then life was filled with placid pleasure
I had not dreamed on earth could be—
Ah! noble barque, that brought such treasure
From lands before unknown to me.
Again my ship to sea went sailing,
While I stood waiting on the shore,
Where clouds were black and winds were wailing,
And breakers stunned me with their roar;
The clouds dispersed; the storm subsiding
Fell to a gentle breeze and free;
The trusty vessel homeward gliding
Brought home a darling boy to me.
While I stood waiting on the shore,
Where clouds were black and winds were wailing,
And breakers stunned me with their roar;
The clouds dispersed; the storm subsiding
Fell to a gentle breeze and free;
The trusty vessel homeward gliding
Brought home a darling boy to me.
Long time my ship was idle lying
At anchor in the harbor here;
Nor sails were set, nor ensign flying,
And so it lay for many a year,
No farther far-off venture making,
But rocking on the sluggish tide,
While I, my quiet comfort taking,
Saw happy years before me glide.
At anchor in the harbor here;
Nor sails were set, nor ensign flying,
And so it lay for many a year,
No farther far-off venture making,
But rocking on the sluggish tide,
While I, my quiet comfort taking,
Saw happy years before me glide.
Once more, without my wish or order,
The time-worn vessel sailed again
Past yon breakwater's green-edged border,
Out to the dark and misty main.
The treasures it had carried to me
It carried back one evil day;
And to a distant land and gloomy
It bore my wife and son away.
The time-worn vessel sailed again
573
Out to the dark and misty main.
The treasures it had carried to me
It carried back one evil day;
And to a distant land and gloomy
It bore my wife and son away.
Since then with signal light a-burning,
I sit here at the window pane,
And anxious look for their returning;
But look and watch and wait in vain.
The ship will come with steady motion,
And Death will guide her to the shore,
To bear me o'er the boundless ocean,
Hither returning nevermore.
I sit here at the window pane,
And anxious look for their returning;
But look and watch and wait in vain.
The ship will come with steady motion,
And Death will guide her to the shore,
To bear me o'er the boundless ocean,
Hither returning nevermore.
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |