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 | Poetry for seamen |  |
1
THE SISTER'S FAREWELL
TO THE SAILOR-BOY.
Since where waves are gliding
And the tall ship riding
Thou dost choose to dwell,
Where the sea-bird screameth,
And the bright flag gleameth,
Brother, fare thee well.
And the tall ship riding
Thou dost choose to dwell,
Where the sea-bird screameth,
And the bright flag gleameth,
Brother, fare thee well.
Where the orchard shineth,
Where the grape-vine twineth,
Or the nut-tree laden,
Thou, while song-birds waken,
Hast with strong arm shaken
For some bright-eyed maiden,—
Where the grape-vine twineth,
Or the nut-tree laden,
Thou, while song-birds waken,
Hast with strong arm shaken
For some bright-eyed maiden,—
2
Where in summer weather,
Oft we 've played together,
'Neath the old oak tree,
With our dog beside us,
While no sorrow tried us,
I'll remember thee.
Oft we 've played together,
'Neath the old oak tree,
With our dog beside us,
While no sorrow tried us,
I'll remember thee.
Where the brook is sheenest,
And the leaves are greenest,
In the forest fair,
With a sad emotion,
Rover of the ocean,
I shall miss thee there.
And the leaves are greenest,
In the forest fair,
With a sad emotion,
Rover of the ocean,
I shall miss thee there.
When dark skies are pouring,
And loud tempests roaring,
Sea-boy, wilt thou be
High among the shrouds,
Wet by dripping clouds,
Thinking then of me?
And loud tempests roaring,
Sea-boy, wilt thou be
High among the shrouds,
Wet by dripping clouds,
Thinking then of me?
3
Should temptations try thee,
Bid the evil fly thee,
Making God thy guide:
Dearest sailor brother,
Let us love each other,
Whatsoe'er betide.
Bid the evil fly thee,
Making God thy guide:
Dearest sailor brother,
Let us love each other,
Whatsoe'er betide.
Heavy night-winds swelling
Round our quiet dwelling,
Shall thy form restore:
Thinking of the billow,
On my restless pillow,
I'll for thee implore.
Round our quiet dwelling,
Shall thy form restore:
Thinking of the billow,
On my restless pillow,
I'll for thee implore.
Oh God! to whom we cried
Our cradle beds beside,
When life was free from pain;
From the storms above him,
To the hearts that love him,
Bring him safe again.
Our cradle beds beside,
When life was free from pain;
From the storms above him,
To the hearts that love him,
Bring him safe again.
4
TOM HARDY.
Tom Hardy was a merry lad,
His pleasant face made others glad,
Like suns that cloudless shine;
Aloft he ran with right good will,
The topsail reefed with ready skill,
And snugly clewed the line.
His pleasant face made others glad,
Like suns that cloudless shine;
Aloft he ran with right good will,
The topsail reefed with ready skill,
And snugly clewed the line.
Obedient still at every call,
And friendly to his messmates all,
For others' pain he felt;
And ever neatest of the crew,
On Sundays, in his jacket blue,
At morning prayers he knelt.
And friendly to his messmates all,
For others' pain he felt;
And ever neatest of the crew,
On Sundays, in his jacket blue,
At morning prayers he knelt.
5
No draught he took to cheer his mind,
The temperance pledge he early signed,
Nor from that promise roved;
In every duty free from blame,
Blow high, blow low, 'twas all the same,
Still happy and beloved.
The temperance pledge he early signed,
Nor from that promise roved;
In every duty free from blame,
Blow high, blow low, 'twas all the same,
Still happy and beloved.
But once, upon a sickly shore,
The burning fever smote him sore,
And when we shipped again,
Still to his sad disease a prey,
He wasted like the snow away,
And all our care was vain.
The burning fever smote him sore,
And when we shipped again,
Still to his sad disease a prey,
He wasted like the snow away,
And all our care was vain.
So, with weak hand, he took the key
From out his chest, and gave it me:
“This to my mother take,
My little all to her I leave,
And tell her not too much to grieve,
For her lost sea-boy's sake.
From out his chest, and gave it me:
“This to my mother take,
My little all to her I leave,
And tell her not too much to grieve,
For her lost sea-boy's sake.
6
Here is the Bible that she gave,
It was my compass on the wave
When prosperous skies were fair;
And now, when darksome billows roll,
It is an anchor to my soul,
That drives away despair.
It was my compass on the wave
When prosperous skies were fair;
And now, when darksome billows roll,
It is an anchor to my soul,
That drives away despair.
Cut from my temples, when I'm dead,
A curling lock of hair, he said,
For my sweet Mary dear:
I know she'll truly mourn for me,
Who slumber in the far, deep sea,
No more her voice to hear.
A curling lock of hair, he said,
For my sweet Mary dear:
I know she'll truly mourn for me,
Who slumber in the far, deep sea,
No more her voice to hear.
And now, my peace with God is made,
So, not of the last foe afraid,
I meet a watery grave;
For near me, with an outstretched hand,
I see my blest Redeemer stand,
My parting soul to save.”
So, not of the last foe afraid,
I meet a watery grave;
For near me, with an outstretched hand,
I see my blest Redeemer stand,
My parting soul to save.”
7
Bright rose the morn, but cold as lead
Lay poor Tom Hardy, pale and dead;
Though yet a smile of joy
Sate on his face, while sad and true
The roughest tar amid the crew
Mourned for the sailor-boy.
Lay poor Tom Hardy, pale and dead;
Though yet a smile of joy
Sate on his face, while sad and true
The roughest tar amid the crew
Mourned for the sailor-boy.
Now, sometimes while my watch I keep
At lonely midnight, on the deep,
When all is calm and clear,
I seem to hear his well-known voice,
“Oh messmate, make your God your choice,
And to His haven steer.”
At lonely midnight, on the deep,
When all is calm and clear,
I seem to hear his well-known voice,
“Oh messmate, make your God your choice,
And to His haven steer.”
8
THE WHALER'S SONG.
There she lies!—There she lies!
Like a mountain-isle on Ocean's breast.
“Where away?” Just three points west,
Where the white surge meets the skies.
Head the vessel! Trim the sail!
Let us see this mighty whale.
Like a mountain-isle on Ocean's breast.
“Where away?” Just three points west,
Where the white surge meets the skies.
Head the vessel! Trim the sail!
Let us see this mighty whale.
There she blows!—There she blows!
Man the boats! for nothing stay!
Such a prize we cannot lose,
Stretch to your oars! away! away!
Grapple closer, careful steer,
Launch the harpoon, laugh at fear,
Plunge it deep, the barbed spear,
Strike the lance, in swift career,
Give her line! Give her line!
Down she goes, through the foaming brine,
Sponge the side, where the flying coil
Marks the monster's speed and toil;
But though she dives to the deepest ground,
Which the plummet fails to sound,
'Tis all in vain! All in vain!
She hath that within her side,
Will surely bring her up again.
Man the boats! for nothing stay!
Such a prize we cannot lose,
Stretch to your oars! away! away!
9
Launch the harpoon, laugh at fear,
Plunge it deep, the barbed spear,
Strike the lance, in swift career,
Give her line! Give her line!
Down she goes, through the foaming brine,
Sponge the side, where the flying coil
Marks the monster's speed and toil;
But though she dives to the deepest ground,
Which the plummet fails to sound,
'Tis all in vain! All in vain!
She hath that within her side,
Will surely bring her up again.
Spout! Spout! Spout!
The waves are maddening all about,
Every billow on its head
Strangely wears a crest of red;
How she lashes the seething main,
In her flurry and her pain;
Take good heed, my hearts of oak,
Of her terrible flukes, as she tortured lies,
Lest they hurl us to the skies:
But lo! the pride of her strength is broke,
Heavy she lies, as a mass of lead,
The mighty-monarch whale is dead!
The waves are maddening all about,
Every billow on its head
Strangely wears a crest of red;
How she lashes the seething main,
In her flurry and her pain;
10
Of her terrible flukes, as she tortured lies,
Lest they hurl us to the skies:
But lo! the pride of her strength is broke,
Heavy she lies, as a mass of lead,
The mighty-monarch whale is dead!
Row! Row! Row!
In our ship she must go,
Changed by fire to a liquid stream,
Over the broad Pacific's swell,
Round Cape Horn, where the tempests dwell,
Many a night and many a day,
Home with us, she must sail away,
Till we joyful hail once more,
Old Nantucket's treeless shore;
There when the fair whom we love to please,
Sit by the fireside at their ease,
Let them remember, if they will,
The hardy tar, who on seas afar
Risked his life their lamp to fill.
In our ship she must go,
Changed by fire to a liquid stream,
Over the broad Pacific's swell,
Round Cape Horn, where the tempests dwell,
Many a night and many a day,
Home with us, she must sail away,
Till we joyful hail once more,
Old Nantucket's treeless shore;
There when the fair whom we love to please,
Sit by the fireside at their ease,
Let them remember, if they will,
The hardy tar, who on seas afar
Risked his life their lamp to fill.
20
CHILD IN A STORM.
The good ship o'er the ocean,
Glides on, where skies are bright,
And rolling waves right merrily
Propel her homeward flight;
But lo! the angry tempests
Rush from their prisoning cell,
The rocky coast frowns dark and dread,
The wintry surges swell.
Glides on, where skies are bright,
And rolling waves right merrily
Propel her homeward flight;
But lo! the angry tempests
Rush from their prisoning cell,
The rocky coast frowns dark and dread,
The wintry surges swell.
'T is night! Amid the breakers
The headlong vessel goes,
And shrieking, like a wounded man,
Strives with her vengeful foes;
Pale grows the boldest mariner,
For scarce the trumpet's cry
Is heard amid contending blasts,
Whose warfare shakes the sky.
The headlong vessel goes,
And shrieking, like a wounded man,
Strives with her vengeful foes;
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For scarce the trumpet's cry
Is heard amid contending blasts,
Whose warfare shakes the sky.
How fearful is the tumult,
The cry, the wail, the prayer,
Wild mingling with the deafening storm
In echoes of despair:
But in the lowly cabin,
Rocked by the raging sea,
There calmly sat a beauteous boy,
Upon his mother's knee.
The cry, the wail, the prayer,
Wild mingling with the deafening storm
In echoes of despair:
But in the lowly cabin,
Rocked by the raging sea,
There calmly sat a beauteous boy,
Upon his mother's knee.
He sang a hymn of heaven,
Then spoke so sweetly mild,
“The Bible saith our Saviour dear
Doth love the little child;
It telleth of a happy home
Beyond the stormy sky;
Mother! He'll take us there to dwell,
We're not afraid to die.”
Then spoke so sweetly mild,
“The Bible saith our Saviour dear
Doth love the little child;
22
Beyond the stormy sky;
Mother! He'll take us there to dwell,
We're not afraid to die.”
His smile was pure and peaceful
As the pearl beneath the deep,
When the booming battle thunders,
Across its bosom sweep;
Hoarse came the words of horror
From men of sinful life,
While innocence, with soul serene,
Beheld the appalling strife.
As the pearl beneath the deep,
When the booming battle thunders,
Across its bosom sweep;
Hoarse came the words of horror
From men of sinful life,
While innocence, with soul serene,
Beheld the appalling strife.
Morn! Morn!—The clouds are breaking,
The tempest's wrath is o'er,
The shattered bark moves heavily
To reach the welcome shore;
Hushed is the voice of thunder,
And quelled the lightning's flame,
For prayer had touched the gate of heaven,
And listening Mercy came.
The tempest's wrath is o'er,
The shattered bark moves heavily
To reach the welcome shore;
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And quelled the lightning's flame,
For prayer had touched the gate of heaven,
And listening Mercy came.
HOMEWARD BOUND.
Hail distant mountain! rearing dim
O'er my loved land, thy lofty head,
How welcome is thy sight to him
So long by chart and compass led;
Speck though thou art, and wrapped in haze,
Right pleasant 't is on thee to gaze.
O'er my loved land, thy lofty head,
How welcome is thy sight to him
So long by chart and compass led;
Speck though thou art, and wrapped in haze,
Right pleasant 't is on thee to gaze.
24
I 've marked the lordly Teneriffe
Rise with rough forehead from the sea,
Gay songsters warbling round the cliff,
Rich strains of dulcet melody;
Yet rather would my longing ear
The wild birds of my country hear.
Rise with rough forehead from the sea,
Gay songsters warbling round the cliff,
Rich strains of dulcet melody;
Yet rather would my longing ear
The wild birds of my country hear.
I 've sailed where Chimborazo towers
Amid old Andes' giant chain,
And where the bright Brazilian flowers
Pour living fragrance o'er the plain;
But sweeter is the clustering vine
That doth my lowly porch entwine.
Amid old Andes' giant chain,
And where the bright Brazilian flowers
Pour living fragrance o'er the plain;
But sweeter is the clustering vine
That doth my lowly porch entwine.
I 've roamed where Himmaleh aspires
With snowy crest o'er Indian vales,
And where perfumed from spicy groves
The freighted vessel fills her sails;
But dearer far yon mountain hoar,
Blest herald of my native shore.
With snowy crest o'er Indian vales,
And where perfumed from spicy groves
The freighted vessel fills her sails;
But dearer far yon mountain hoar,
Blest herald of my native shore.
25
THE HEROIC SAILOR.
[_]
The circumstances here related, took place during the great fire in the city of New York, on the night of December 16th, 1836.
It was a fearful night!
The fire devouring spread
From roof to roof, from street to street,
And on their treasures fed;
Hark! 't is a mother's cry,
Shrill mid the tumult wild,
As rushing toward her flame-wrapped home,
She shrieks, “My child! my child!”
The fire devouring spread
From roof to roof, from street to street,
And on their treasures fed;
Hark! 't is a mother's cry,
Shrill mid the tumult wild,
As rushing toward her flame-wrapped home,
She shrieks, “My child! my child!”
A wanderer from the wave,
A sailor marked her woe,
And in his feeling bosom woke
The sympathetic glow,—
Quick up the cleaving stairs,
With daring step he flew,
Though sable clouds of stifling smoke
Concealed him from their view.
A sailor marked her woe,
And in his feeling bosom woke
The sympathetic glow,—
26
With daring step he flew,
Though sable clouds of stifling smoke
Concealed him from their view.
The astonished crowd beheld
His bold, adventurous part,
And while they for his safety feared,
Admired his noble heart,—
For blazing timbers fell
To choke his dangerous road,
And the far chamber where he groped
Like reeking oven glowed.
His bold, adventurous part,
And while they for his safety feared,
Admired his noble heart,—
For blazing timbers fell
To choke his dangerous road,
And the far chamber where he groped
Like reeking oven glowed.
How loud the exulting shout!
When from that mass of flame,
Unhurt, unshrinking, undismayed,
The brave deliverer came,—
While in his victor arms
A smiling infant lay,
Pleased with the flash that round his bed
Had wound its glittering ray.
When from that mass of flame,
Unhurt, unshrinking, undismayed,
The brave deliverer came,—
27
A smiling infant lay,
Pleased with the flash that round his bed
Had wound its glittering ray.
The mother's speechless tears
Forth like a torrent sped,
Yet ere the throng could learn his name
That generous hero fled;
Not for the praise of man
He wrought this deed of love,
But on a bright, unfading page,
'T is registered above.
Forth like a torrent sped,
Yet ere the throng could learn his name
That generous hero fled;
Not for the praise of man
He wrought this deed of love,
But on a bright, unfading page,
'T is registered above.
28
THOUGHTS OF HOME
A home I have on land,
A humble one, and low,
But there my best beloved friend
Remembereth me, I know;
And she will teach, with glowing cheek
Our babe its father's name to speak.
A humble one, and low,
But there my best beloved friend
Remembereth me, I know;
And she will teach, with glowing cheek
Our babe its father's name to speak.
I keep my lonely watch
At midnight's solemn hour,
And when the rushing waves go by
With wild resistless power,
A spirit whispereth from their foam,
“O Sailor! Sailor! welcome home!”
At midnight's solemn hour,
And when the rushing waves go by
With wild resistless power,
A spirit whispereth from their foam,
“O Sailor! Sailor! welcome home!”
29
'T is often in my thoughts,
That quiet home and fair,
And in my sea-rocked dream I see
The infant sleeping there;
And tears that from his mother's eye
Gushed when I bade them both good bye.
That quiet home and fair,
And in my sea-rocked dream I see
The infant sleeping there;
And tears that from his mother's eye
Gushed when I bade them both good bye.
Upon their love I muse,
When wrathful tempests roar,
And heavenward lift the earnest prayer,
To see their face once more;
And joyful join the happy band
Whose home is in my native land.
When wrathful tempests roar,
And heavenward lift the earnest prayer,
To see their face once more;
And joyful join the happy band
Whose home is in my native land.
30
HOPE IN GOD.
Appear for my defence, my God,
And let thy shield be spread
Around the sailor's lonely heart,
And unprotected head.
And let thy shield be spread
Around the sailor's lonely heart,
And unprotected head.
Thine are the ocean and the land,
And man's frail dying race,
While those who walk in pride, thy hand
Is able to abase.
And man's frail dying race,
While those who walk in pride, thy hand
Is able to abase.
Let not my hope in thee be crossed,
Who have no help beside,
Nor on the winds my prayer be lost,
Thou Everlasting Guide!
Who have no help beside,
Nor on the winds my prayer be lost,
Thou Everlasting Guide!
31
But bid thy mercy and thy love
Encompass me around,
And thoughts of heavenly comfort prove
A balm for every wound.
Encompass me around,
And thoughts of heavenly comfort prove
A balm for every wound.
Uphold me in temptation's field,
Where I am called to go,
Nor let my feeble spirit yield
To earthly sin and woe.
Where I am called to go,
Nor let my feeble spirit yield
To earthly sin and woe.
For though the wildest storms may rise,
And darkness rule the sphere,
The hope that anchors in the skies
Hath nought to do with fear.
And darkness rule the sphere,
The hope that anchors in the skies
Hath nought to do with fear.
32
LESSON OF THE SEA.
Go down unto the sea,
Where white-winged navies ride,
Whose mighty pulses heave so free
In strong, mysterious tide;
Deep in whose coral-cells
Where sunless forests weep,
So many a wandering child of earth
Hath laid him down to sleep.
Where white-winged navies ride,
Whose mighty pulses heave so free
In strong, mysterious tide;
Deep in whose coral-cells
Where sunless forests weep,
So many a wandering child of earth
Hath laid him down to sleep.
Go forth upon the sea,
And at the break of morn,
Teach its young waves the words of prayer,
Before the day is born;
And when the night grows dim,
Beguile the billows wild,
With the holy hush of thine evening-hymn,
As the mother lulls her child.
And at the break of morn,
Teach its young waves the words of prayer,
Before the day is born;
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Beguile the billows wild,
With the holy hush of thine evening-hymn,
As the mother lulls her child.
Go, bow thee to the sea,
When the heavy breakers roar,
And a meek-hearted listener be
To all their fearful lore;
And learn when tempests lower
The lesson of the wave,
“One Voice alone can curb our power,
One Arm alone can save.”
When the heavy breakers roar,
And a meek-hearted listener be
To all their fearful lore;
And learn when tempests lower
The lesson of the wave,
“One Voice alone can curb our power,
One Arm alone can save.”
Go homeward from the sea,
When its trial-hour is past,
With deeper trust in Him who rules
The billow and the blast;
And should the charms of earth
Around thy bosom creep,
Forget not in thine hour of mirth
The wisdom of the deep.
When its trial-hour is past,
With deeper trust in Him who rules
The billow and the blast;
34
Around thy bosom creep,
Forget not in thine hour of mirth
The wisdom of the deep.
LINES
TO THE AUTHOR OF “THIRTY YEARS FROM HOME.”
Son of the Sea! through many a clime
Hardship and toil have marked thy way
The thundering battle steeped in blood,
And the wild tempest's fearful sway.
Hardship and toil have marked thy way
The thundering battle steeped in blood,
And the wild tempest's fearful sway.
35
But now, thy peaceful hearth beside,
Thy happier lot it is to see
Domestic comfort flourish fair,
And yield its cherished fruits to thee.
Thy happier lot it is to see
Domestic comfort flourish fair,
And yield its cherished fruits to thee.
Forget not in thy daily prayer
To praise the Hand that safely led
Thee through the perils of the wave,
And snares of sin thy path that spread.
To praise the Hand that safely led
Thee through the perils of the wave,
And snares of sin thy path that spread.
Son of the Sea! thy choice is made,
Fast by thy Saviour's cross to cling;
So mayst thou reach His haven blest,
And join the triumphs of thy King.
Fast by thy Saviour's cross to cling;
So mayst thou reach His haven blest,
And join the triumphs of thy King.
40
DRINKING SONG.
Drink, friends, the parting hour draws nigh,
Drink, and forget your care,
The sultry summer-noon is high,
Drink, and your strength repair;
The farmer with his toil-brown hands,
The soldier, tired of slaughter,
The camel mid the burning sands,
Drink deep the crystal water.
Drink, and forget your care,
The sultry summer-noon is high,
Drink, and your strength repair;
The farmer with his toil-brown hands,
The soldier, tired of slaughter,
The camel mid the burning sands,
Drink deep the crystal water.
Our father Sun the example gives,
Our mother Earth also;
He, jocund drinks, above the cloud,
She, thirsting, drinks below:
Drink friends, drink deep, before we part,
To loving wife, or daughter,
Or bright-eyed maid who rules your heart,
Drink deep, but only water.
Our mother Earth also;
He, jocund drinks, above the cloud,
She, thirsting, drinks below:
Drink friends, drink deep, before we part,
To loving wife, or daughter,
Or bright-eyed maid who rules your heart,
Drink deep, but only water.
41
“I WENT TO SEA.”
I am a sailor, rough and bold,
And yet my boyhood fair,
Was nurtured in a pleasant home,
By parents' tender care;
But at their hearth or by their side
I had no mind to be,
E'er since I heard a story told
Of one who went to sea.
And yet my boyhood fair,
Was nurtured in a pleasant home,
By parents' tender care;
But at their hearth or by their side
I had no mind to be,
E'er since I heard a story told
Of one who went to sea.
I sat in school, but book and rule
Still no instruction brought,
The snowy sail and foaming flood
So filled my roving thought;
And when on quiet pillow laid,
There was no rest for me,
For every fleeting vision sung
The music of the sea.
Still no instruction brought,
The snowy sail and foaming flood
So filled my roving thought;
42
There was no rest for me,
For every fleeting vision sung
The music of the sea.
My father bade me learn a trade,
Or till the fallow land,
And told how healthful toil would heap
The silver in my hand;
But when he died, I felt, alas!
From all allegiance free,
And though my widowed mother wept,
I left her for the sea.
Or till the fallow land,
And told how healthful toil would heap
The silver in my hand;
But when he died, I felt, alas!
From all allegiance free,
And though my widowed mother wept,
I left her for the sea.
I 've sailed where arctic oceans spread,
And icy mountains frown,
And the fierce fire of tropic suns
Hath burnt my forehead brown;
I 've sailed among the Indian isles,
Where grows the spicy tree,
And where the broad La Plata rolls,
Rich tribute to the sea.
And icy mountains frown,
And the fierce fire of tropic suns
Hath burnt my forehead brown;
43
Where grows the spicy tree,
And where the broad La Plata rolls,
Rich tribute to the sea.
I 've climbed the shroud when storms blew loud,
And every star was dead,
And winter in the midnight cloud
Had muffled up her head;
I 've seen our good ship go to wreck,
For such was heaven's decree,
And in the boat, mid breakers white,
Have dared the raging sea.
And every star was dead,
And winter in the midnight cloud
Had muffled up her head;
I 've seen our good ship go to wreck,
For such was heaven's decree,
And in the boat, mid breakers white,
Have dared the raging sea.
Yet still that Pilot, who the helm
Of this round world doth guide,
Preserved me when the jaws of death
Were yawning dark and wide;
Though when the blast was safely past
Too oft in sailor glee,
This too ungrateful heart forget
The Ruler of the sea.
Of this round world doth guide,
Preserved me when the jaws of death
Were yawning dark and wide;
44
Too oft in sailor glee,
This too ungrateful heart forget
The Ruler of the sea.
But, blessed day! a holy man
To me a Bible gave,
That life-boat to the struggling wretch,
Who darkly beats the wave;
And now its blest and warning voice,
Doth speak good words to me,
Whene'er my midnight watch I keep
Upon the lonely sea.
To me a Bible gave,
That life-boat to the struggling wretch,
Who darkly beats the wave;
And now its blest and warning voice,
Doth speak good words to me,
Whene'er my midnight watch I keep
Upon the lonely sea.
And then, my mother's image comes
So pitiful and meek,
As when with streaming eyes she stood
Her last farewell to speak;
When from her pleasant cottage door
I made such haste to flee,
And in my wilful mood forsook
Her kindness for the sea.
So pitiful and meek,
As when with streaming eyes she stood
Her last farewell to speak;
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I made such haste to flee,
And in my wilful mood forsook
Her kindness for the sea.
That Book divine, which bids us shun
The dread undying flame,
Doth strictly for our parent-guides,
A filial reverence claim;
But mother, mother, kind and dear,
How have I honored thee?
With many a pang I paid thy love,
Before I went to sea.
The dread undying flame,
Doth strictly for our parent-guides,
A filial reverence claim;
But mother, mother, kind and dear,
How have I honored thee?
With many a pang I paid thy love,
Before I went to sea.
God give me grace to see her face,
And sooth her sorrowing care,
And freely with her feeble age
My honest pittance share;
And once more bending by her side,
On the repentant knee,
Hear her fond lips rejoicing bless
The wanderer from the sea.
And sooth her sorrowing care,
And freely with her feeble age
My honest pittance share;
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On the repentant knee,
Hear her fond lips rejoicing bless
The wanderer from the sea.
THE SAILOR'S SICK CHILD.
Come, mother, sit beside my bed,
And of my father tell,
On the deep ocean far away,
Where foaming billows swell;
I wish that he were with us now,
While sick and faint I lie,
'T were good to hear his loving voice,
And bless him ere I die.
And of my father tell,
On the deep ocean far away,
Where foaming billows swell;
I wish that he were with us now,
While sick and faint I lie,
'T were good to hear his loving voice,
And bless him ere I die.
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Mother, it troubles me to see
Those stranger-ladies come,
And urge you so to leave my side,
And work for them, at home;
Methinks they coldly gaze on me,
And shake their heads, and say,
How feeble and how pale I grow,
And waste, and waste away.
Those stranger-ladies come,
And urge you so to leave my side,
And work for them, at home;
Methinks they coldly gaze on me,
And shake their heads, and say,
How feeble and how pale I grow,
And waste, and waste away.
And oh, it grieves my heart to think,
From morn to evening shade,
That you so oft for them must toil,
And have from me no aid;
And then, with tender words, you say,
You wish it were not so,
But I should have no food or fire,
Unless you sometimes go.
From morn to evening shade,
That you so oft for them must toil,
And have from me no aid;
And then, with tender words, you say,
You wish it were not so,
But I should have no food or fire,
Unless you sometimes go.
When slow the sunset fades away,
And twilight mists appear,
The sound of your returning step
Is music to my ear;
How happy are those children dear,
Who, on their couch of pain,
Behold a mother always near,
But still, I'll not complain.
And twilight mists appear,
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Is music to my ear;
How happy are those children dear,
Who, on their couch of pain,
Behold a mother always near,
But still, I'll not complain.
There 's nought on earth I love so much
As your dear face to see,
And now, indeed, the time is short
We can together be;
Still draw me closer to your side,
And to your bosom fold,
For then my cough I do not heed,
Nor feel the winter's cold.
As your dear face to see,
And now, indeed, the time is short
We can together be;
Still draw me closer to your side,
And to your bosom fold,
For then my cough I do not heed,
Nor feel the winter's cold.
Yet when the storm is loud and wild,
I cover up my head,
And pray Almighty God to save
My father from the dead;
So, in his lonely midnight watch
Upon the tossing sea,
Perhaps beneath the solemn stars
He will remember me.
I cover up my head,
And pray Almighty God to save
My father from the dead;
49
Upon the tossing sea,
Perhaps beneath the solemn stars
He will remember me.
I know I cannot see him more,
I feel it must be so,
But he can find my little grave,
Where early spring flowers blow;
And you will comfort all his cares,
When I in heaven shall be;
But mother, dearest! when I die,
Oh! be alone with me.
I feel it must be so,
But he can find my little grave,
Where early spring flowers blow;
And you will comfort all his cares,
When I in heaven shall be;
But mother, dearest! when I die,
Oh! be alone with me.
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HYMN FOR THANKSGIVING DAY.
Sons of the boisterous sea,
With grateful hearts we share
The blessings of this happy land,
Which heaven hath made its care;—
With grateful hearts we share
The blessings of this happy land,
Which heaven hath made its care;—
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Whose glorious flag is borne
High o'er the ocean's breast,
Whose strong-winged eagle proudly makes
Among the stars his nest.
High o'er the ocean's breast,
Whose strong-winged eagle proudly makes
Among the stars his nest.
Not with the cup that drains
Our best resolves away,
And leaves its poison in our veins,
We keep the feast to-day.
Our best resolves away,
And leaves its poison in our veins,
We keep the feast to-day.
But from the hateful cloud
Of dark intemperance free,
We praise the Giver of our joys,
Who ruleth land and sea;—
Of dark intemperance free,
We praise the Giver of our joys,
Who ruleth land and sea;—
Who saved us when the surge
Rolled high in threatening pride,
And from the shipwreck and the blast,
When many a comrade died.
Rolled high in threatening pride,
And from the shipwreck and the blast,
When many a comrade died.
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And if in Christian love
His precepts we obey,
The whole of future life may prove
One blest Thanksgiving day.
His precepts we obey,
The whole of future life may prove
One blest Thanksgiving day.
PRAYER IN SICKNESS.
Oh Thou, whose healing touch
So oft the sick did save,
When thou didst dwell with men below,
And tread the raging wave;
So oft the sick did save,
When thou didst dwell with men below,
And tread the raging wave;
In weakness and in woe,
I bow my dropping head,
Oh! give the pitying angels charge
To watch my lonely bed.
I bow my dropping head,
Oh! give the pitying angels charge
To watch my lonely bed.
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Be with me, while the hours
In speechless suffering roll,
And make each pain a teacher, Lord,
Unto my sinful soul.
In speechless suffering roll,
And make each pain a teacher, Lord,
Unto my sinful soul.
Should vigorous health once more
Reanimate my frame,
Inspire me with a purer zeal
To glorify Thy name.
Reanimate my frame,
Inspire me with a purer zeal
To glorify Thy name.
Thy precepts to obey
My roving heart incline,
And grant that both in life and death
Thy holy will be mine.
My roving heart incline,
And grant that both in life and death
Thy holy will be mine.
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DELIVERANCE FROM DANGER.
Ruler of the earth and sky,
Who the mighty deep doth hold
In the hollow of Thy hand,
By thy slightest word controlled;
Who the mighty deep doth hold
In the hollow of Thy hand,
By thy slightest word controlled;
Who the stormy winds dost curb,
Rushing on their midnight path,
And the reeling vessel save
From the tempest of their wrath;
Rushing on their midnight path,
And the reeling vessel save
From the tempest of their wrath;
Thou from shipwreck and despair
Didst our souls in safety set,
When all human help was vain,
May we ne'er thy love forget;
Didst our souls in safety set,
When all human help was vain,
May we ne'er thy love forget;
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Ne'er the tender mercy grieve
That upheld us when we prayed,
Nor the sacred promise break
That in danger's hour we made.
That upheld us when we prayed,
Nor the sacred promise break
That in danger's hour we made.
| Poetry for seamen | |