The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
THE STORM. |
|
 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
THE STORM.
When gentle breezes kiss the tide,
And waft the vessel o'er the deep,
Silent beneath her stately side,
The peaceful waters seem to sleep.
And waft the vessel o'er the deep,
Silent beneath her stately side,
The peaceful waters seem to sleep.
299
The sluggish waves just heave along,
While swift she cuts the yielding main;
The sailors' hearts with hope beat strong
To reach their long-left homes again.
While swift she cuts the yielding main;
The sailors' hearts with hope beat strong
To reach their long-left homes again.
But gath'ring clouds the sun o'erspread,
While he with crimson gilds the west;
The storm appears, whose awful head
With terror chills each sailor's breast.
While he with crimson gilds the west;
The storm appears, whose awful head
With terror chills each sailor's breast.
The frighted billows seem to know
The dreadful tempest ere it comes;
And, where the whirling hail descends,
The frothy sea in madness foams.
The dreadful tempest ere it comes;
And, where the whirling hail descends,
The frothy sea in madness foams.
Nearer and nearer rolls the storm,
And wraps in darkness all the sky;
While o'er its frowning awful cheek,
The dazzling flashes frequent fly.
And wraps in darkness all the sky;
While o'er its frowning awful cheek,
The dazzling flashes frequent fly.
The azure vault is seen no more;
But, wrapp'd in deepest gloom of night,
The waves return, the thunders roar,
And lightnings glare—their only light!
But, wrapp'd in deepest gloom of night,
The waves return, the thunders roar,
And lightnings glare—their only light!
Then buried deep beneath the waves,
The shatter'd rigging and the shrouds,
While, mad with rage, the tempest raves—
Her helm is lost among the clouds.
The shatter'd rigging and the shrouds,
While, mad with rage, the tempest raves—
Her helm is lost among the clouds.
300
No steady course the vessel keeps,
By such a dreadful tempest driv'n;
But, like a cork upon the deeps,
Uplifted by the waves to heav'n.
By such a dreadful tempest driv'n;
But, like a cork upon the deeps,
Uplifted by the waves to heav'n.
What fervent prayers, in that dread hour!
For worlds unknown, they all prepare!
And to appease the Almighty Power,
Is ev'ry trembling seaman's care.
For worlds unknown, they all prepare!
And to appease the Almighty Power,
Is ev'ry trembling seaman's care.
At last she strikes—and floats no more,
But sinks a wreck amidst the deep;
And, far from England's happy shore,
Beneath the waves the sailors sleep.
But sinks a wreck amidst the deep;
And, far from England's happy shore,
Beneath the waves the sailors sleep.
In vain their friends, with bosoms true,
Expect with joy their bless'd return;
For them no more their friends shall view,
But for their loss in anguish mourn.
Expect with joy their bless'd return;
For them no more their friends shall view,
But for their loss in anguish mourn.
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |