 | Poems of Freneau |  |
HATTERAS.
IN fathoms five the anchor gone;
While here we furl the sail,
No longer vainly labouring on
Against the western gale:
While here thy bare and barren cliffs,
O HATTERAS, I survey,
And shallow grounds and broken reefs—
What shall console my stay!
While here we furl the sail,
No longer vainly labouring on
Against the western gale:
While here thy bare and barren cliffs,
O HATTERAS, I survey,
And shallow grounds and broken reefs—
What shall console my stay!
The dangerous shoal, that breaks the wave
In columns to the sky;
The tempests black, that hourly rave,
Portend all danger nigh:
Sad are my dreams on ocean's verge!
The Atlantic round me flows,
Upon whose ancient angry surge
No traveller finds repose!
In columns to the sky;
The tempests black, that hourly rave,
Portend all danger nigh:
Sad are my dreams on ocean's verge!
The Atlantic round me flows,
Upon whose ancient angry surge
No traveller finds repose!
The PILOT comes!—from yonder sands
He shoves his barque, so frail,
And hurrying on, with busy hands,
Employs both oar and sail.
Beneath this rude unsettled sky
Condemn'd to pass his years,
No other shores delight his eye,
No foe alarms his fears.
He shoves his barque, so frail,
And hurrying on, with busy hands,
Employs both oar and sail.
372
Condemn'd to pass his years,
No other shores delight his eye,
No foe alarms his fears.
In depths of woods his hut he builds,
Devoted to repose,
And, blooming, in the barren wilds
His little garden grows:
His wedded nymph, of sallow hue,
No mingled colours grace—
For her he toils—to her is true,
The captive of her face.
Devoted to repose,
And, blooming, in the barren wilds
His little garden grows:
His wedded nymph, of sallow hue,
No mingled colours grace—
For her he toils—to her is true,
The captive of her face.
Kind Nature here, to make him blest,
No quiet harbour plann'd;
And poverty—his constant guest,
Restrains the pirate band:
His hopes are all in yonder flock,
Or some few hives of bees,
Except, when bound for OCRACOCK,
Some gliding barque he sees:
No quiet harbour plann'd;
And poverty—his constant guest,
Restrains the pirate band:
His hopes are all in yonder flock,
Or some few hives of bees,
Except, when bound for OCRACOCK,
Some gliding barque he sees:
His Catharine then he quits with grief,
And spreads his tottering sails,
While, waving high her handkerchief,
Her commodore she hails:
She grieves, and fears to see no more
The sail that now forsakes,
From HATTERAS' sands to banks of CORE
Such tedious journies takes!
And spreads his tottering sails,
While, waving high her handkerchief,
Her commodore she hails:
She grieves, and fears to see no more
The sail that now forsakes,
From HATTERAS' sands to banks of CORE
Such tedious journies takes!
Fond nymph! your sighs are heav'd in vain;
Restrain those idle fears:
Can you—that should relieve his pain—
Thus kill him with your tears!
Can absence, thus, beget regard,
Or does it only seem?
He comes to meet a wandering bard
That steers for ASHLEY'S stream.
Restrain those idle fears:
373
Thus kill him with your tears!
Can absence, thus, beget regard,
Or does it only seem?
He comes to meet a wandering bard
That steers for ASHLEY'S stream.
Though disappointed in his views,
Not joyless will we part;
Nor shall the god of mirth refuse
The BALSAM OF THE HEART:
No niggard key shall lock up JOY—
I'll give him half my store
Will he but half his skill employ
To guard us from your shore.
Not joyless will we part;
Nor shall the god of mirth refuse
The BALSAM OF THE HEART:
No niggard key shall lock up JOY—
I'll give him half my store
Will he but half his skill employ
To guard us from your shore.
Should eastern gales once more awake,
No safety will be here:—
Alack! I see the billows break,
Wild tempests hovering near:
Before the bellowing seas begin
Their conflict with the land,
Go, pilot, go—your Catharine join,
That waits on yonder sand.
No safety will be here:—
Alack! I see the billows break,
Wild tempests hovering near:
Before the bellowing seas begin
Their conflict with the land,
Go, pilot, go—your Catharine join,
That waits on yonder sand.
1789
| Poems of Freneau | |