Flower Pieces and other poems By William Allingham: With two designs by Dante Gabriel Rossetti |
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THE SLAVE-SHIP. |
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 | Flower Pieces and other poems |  |
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THE SLAVE-SHIP.
The slave-ship was burning, the sea was aflame,
And the sunset bedimm'd with the blaze of the same.
‘These slaves,’—said the crew, ‘Let us pick two or three;
For the rest, they may burn, they may drown—what care we?’
And the sunset bedimm'd with the blaze of the same.
‘These slaves,’—said the crew, ‘Let us pick two or three;
For the rest, they may burn, they may drown—what care we?’
Then the cry of ten-score in that black vessel cramm'd
Arose like the cry of ten-score of the damn'd;
Chain'd fast whilst the growling fire fought with the sea,
Like tiger with lion, whose prey they should be.
Arose like the cry of ten-score of the damn'd;
Chain'd fast whilst the growling fire fought with the sea,
Like tiger with lion, whose prey they should be.
Some rended their bonds with the strength of despair,
And swam to the boats; but a fiercer was there
Than the sea or the fire, and more cruel than they;
For Man took Death's side in that terrible fray!
And swam to the boats; but a fiercer was there
Than the sea or the fire, and more cruel than they;
For Man took Death's side in that terrible fray!
A young negro girl in the long-boat had place.
Through the water close by rose a dark, well-known face.
When she saw it she cried out with joy like a child,
And held down her hand to her lover, and smiled.
Through the water close by rose a dark, well-known face.
When she saw it she cried out with joy like a child,
And held down her hand to her lover, and smiled.
A shot rang beside her: he sank like a stone:
The waters were bloody, and she was alone.
She has sprung from the boat: she is lost in the deep:
And their sorrows and wrongs are laid softly to sleep.
The waters were bloody, and she was alone.
She has sprung from the boat: she is lost in the deep:
And their sorrows and wrongs are laid softly to sleep.
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