 | Jones Very : The Complete Poems |  |
345
The Barque Aurelia of Boston
The old Barque's picture we took from the wall,
In which I sailed over the sea;
Which our sailor-boy days did so brightly recall
To my boyhood's companion, and me.
In which I sailed over the sea;
Which our sailor-boy days did so brightly recall
To my boyhood's companion, and me.
With our fathers once more we sailed over the main,
From country to country to roam;
New knowledge of earth, and its nations to gain,
Yet never forgetful of home.
From country to country to roam;
New knowledge of earth, and its nations to gain,
Yet never forgetful of home.
The ocean, so grand in its aspect & form,
Seemed again on our vision to rise;
By night and by day, in calm and in storm,
As its wonders first greeted our eyes.
Seemed again on our vision to rise;
By night and by day, in calm and in storm,
As its wonders first greeted our eyes.
The sailors' quaint speech, and their strange dress, and ways,
Again to my fancy appeared;
Yet their honest, kind hearts I remember to praise,
For to them was the ship's boy endeared.
Again to my fancy appeared;
Yet their honest, kind hearts I remember to praise,
For to them was the ship's boy endeared.
And the
port where we lay, and the winter time spent,
Where first our acquaintance began;
What pleasure has time to those early days lent,
Since each has become a grown man!
Where first our acquaintance began;
What pleasure has time to those early days lent,
Since each has become a grown man!
The river, the shipping, the flat boats we view,
Slaves, and Indians we ne'er saw before;
At every turn we see something new,
As the city again we explore.
Slaves, and Indians we ne'er saw before;
At every turn we see something new,
As the city again we explore.
And with us was one, whom our hearts loved so well,
Long since from the earth passed away;
How oft of his looks does memory tell,
Board the barque, or at school, or at play!
Long since from the earth passed away;
How oft of his looks does memory tell,
Board the barque, or at school, or at play!
346
With him too have gone, to the fair world above,
Our fathers, the seamen we knew;
Where cherished for aye are friendships, and love,
Which on earth have proved faithful and true.
Our fathers, the seamen we knew;
Where cherished for aye are friendships, and love,
Which on earth have proved faithful and true.
Poem No. 535; 1861?
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