 | [Poems by Drake in] The life and works of Joseph Rodman Drake (1795-1820) |  |
Song at Sea
Sleep, lady, sleep, the planets weep
Their star-dew on the midnight deep;
The moonlight beam, shines on the stream,
To light the water-spirits dream;
Oh, softly thus shall slumber shed
Her lulling dews around thy head;
And fancy's beamings sparkle nigh,
As brightly as on thy dreaming eye.
Their star-dew on the midnight deep;
The moonlight beam, shines on the stream,
To light the water-spirits dream;
Oh, softly thus shall slumber shed
Her lulling dews around thy head;
And fancy's beamings sparkle nigh,
As brightly as on thy dreaming eye.
On favoring tides, the vessel glides,
The sea-fire sparkles round her sides,
And in the sail the evening gale
Is whispering low a soothing tale.
Yet, lady, sleep, in visions sweet
A dream scene thy gaze shall meet,
And while the tall ship slowly moves,
Thy heart shall fly to friends it loves.
The sea-fire sparkles round her sides,
And in the sail the evening gale
Is whispering low a soothing tale.
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A dream scene thy gaze shall meet,
And while the tall ship slowly moves,
Thy heart shall fly to friends it loves.
But hark! the cry from topmast high
Its accents tell that land is nigh,
And dimly seen the headland green,
Is breaking through the midnight screen;
Then, lady, wake, our home is nigh,
Ah! ne'er can rise on fancy's eye
A spot beneath yon azure dome
So lovely as the land of home.
Its accents tell that land is nigh,
And dimly seen the headland green,
Is breaking through the midnight screen;
Then, lady, wake, our home is nigh,
Ah! ne'er can rise on fancy's eye
A spot beneath yon azure dome
So lovely as the land of home.
J. Rodman Drake
April 20, 1820
| [Poems by Drake in] The life and works of Joseph Rodman Drake (1795-1820) | |