 | Traits and trials (1836) |  |
113
THE SAILOR.
Now tell me of my brother,
So far away at sea;
Amid the Indian islands,
Of which you read to me.
So far away at sea;
Amid the Indian islands,
Of which you read to me.
I wish that I were with him,
Then I should see on high
The tall and stately cocoa,
That rises mid the sky.
Then I should see on high
The tall and stately cocoa,
That rises mid the sky.
But only round the summit
The feathery leaves are seen,
Like the plumes of some great warrior,
It spreads its shining green.
The feathery leaves are seen,
Like the plumes of some great warrior,
It spreads its shining green.
And there the flowers are brighter
Than any that I know;
And the birds have purple plumage,
And wings of crimson glow.
Than any that I know;
And the birds have purple plumage,
And wings of crimson glow.
There grow cinnamon and spices,
And, for a mile and more,
The cool sweet gales of evening
Bring perfume from the shore.
And, for a mile and more,
The cool sweet gales of evening
Bring perfume from the shore.
Amid those sunny islands
His good ship has to roam:
Amid so many wonders
He must forget his home.
His good ship has to roam:
Amid so many wonders
He must forget his home.
114
And yet his native valley
How fair it is to-day!
I hear the brook below us
Go singing on its way.
How fair it is to-day!
I hear the brook below us
Go singing on its way.
Amid its water lilies
He launch'd his first small boat—
He taught me how to build them,
And how to make them float.
He launch'd his first small boat—
He taught me how to build them,
And how to make them float.
And there too are the yew trees
From whence he cut his bow;
Mournfully are they sweeping
The long green grass below.
From whence he cut his bow;
Mournfully are they sweeping
The long green grass below.
It is the lonely churchyard,
And many tombs are there;
On one no weeds are growing,
But many a flower is fair.
And many tombs are there;
On one no weeds are growing,
But many a flower is fair.
Though lovely are the countries
That lie beyond the wave,
He will not find among them
Our mother's early grave.
That lie beyond the wave,
He will not find among them
Our mother's early grave.
I fear not for the summer,
However bright it be;
My heart says that my brother
Will seek his home and me.
However bright it be;
My heart says that my brother
Will seek his home and me.
| Traits and trials (1836) | |