And unseen mermaids' pearly song To sea, to sea! our wide-winged bark O'er antelopes on Alpine height. The anchor heaves, the ship swings free, The sails swell full. To sea, to sea! Thomas Lovell Beddoes [1803-1849] "A LIFE ON THE OCEAN WAVE" A LIFE on the ocean wave, A home on the rolling deep, On this dull, unchanging shore: Once more on the deck I stand We shoot through the sparkling foam The land is no longer in view, The clouds have begun to frown; But with a stout vessel and crew, We'll say, Let the storm come down! Tacking Ship off Shore And the song of our hearts shall be, A home on the rolling sea! A life on the ocean wave! 1549 Epes Sargent [1813-1880] TACKING SHIP OFF SHORE THE weather-leech of the topsail shivers, The bowlines strain, and the lee-shrouds slacken, The braces are taut, the lithe boom quivers, And the waves with the coming squall-cloud blacken. Open one point on the weather-bow, Is the lighthouse tall on Fire Island Head. There's a shade of doubt on the captain's brow, And the pilot watches the heaving lead. I stand at the wheel, and with eager eye The ship bends lower before the breeze, As her broadside fair to the blast she lays; It is silence all, as each in his place, With the gathered coil in his hardened hands, And the light on Fire Island Head draws near, No time to spare! It is touch and go; And the captain growls, “Down helm! hard down!" As my weight on the whirling spokes I throw, While heaven grows black with the storm-cloud's frown. High o'er the knight-heads flies the spray, With the swerving leap of a startled steed And the headland white we have left behind. The topsails flutter, the jibs collapse, And belly and tug at the groaning cleats; The spanker slats, and the mainsail flaps; And thunders the order, "Tacks and sheets!" Mid the rattle of blocks and the tramp of the crew, The sails are aback from clew to clew, And the heavy yards, like a baby's toy, She holds her way, and I look with joy For the first white spray o'er the bulwarks flung. "Let go, and haul!" 'Tis the last command, And the head-sails fill to the blast once more: Astern and to leeward lies the land, With its breakers white on the shingly shore. What matters the reef, or the rain, or the squall? The first mate clamors, "Belay, there, all!" And so off shore let the good ship fly; In my fo'castle bunk, in a jacket dry. Eight bells have struck, and my watch is below. Walter Mitchell [1826-1908] Poor Jack 1551 IN OUR BOAT STARS trembling o'er us and sunset before us, Speak not, ah, breathe not-there's peace on the deep. Come not, pale sorrow, flee till to-morrow; Rest softly falling o'er eyelids that weep; While down the river we float on forever, Speak not, ah, breathe not-there's peace on the deep. As the waves cover the depths we glide over, While down the river we float on forever, Speak not, ah, breathe not-there's peace on the deep. Heaven shine above us, bless all that love us; All whom we love in thy tenderness keep! While down the river we float on forever, Speak not, ah, breathe not-there's peace on the deep. POOR JACK Go, patter to lubbers and swabs, do ye see, 'Bout danger, and fear, and the like; A water-tight boat and good sea-room for me, And it ain't to a little I'll strike. Though the tempest topgallant-masts smack smooth should smite, And shiver each splinter of wood, Clear the deck, stow the yards, and house everything tight, And under reefed foresail we'll scud: Avast! nor don't think me a milksop so soft To be taken for trifles aback; For they say there's a Providence sits up aloft, I heard our good chaplain palaver one day And a many fine things that proved clearly to me "For," says he, "do you mind me, let storms e'er so oft Take the topsails of sailors aback, There's a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft, I said to our Poll,—for, d'ye see, she would cry, Why, what a blamed fool you must be! Can't you see, the world's wide, and there's room for us all, Both for seamen and lubbers ashore? And if to old Davy I should go, friend Poll, You never will hear of me more. What then? All's a hazard: come, don't be so soft: Perhaps I may laughing come back; For, d'ye sce, there's a cherub sits smiling aloft, D'ye mind me, a sailor should be every inch And with her brave the world, without offering to flinch As for me, in all weathers, all times, sides, and ends, For my heart is my Poll's, and my rhino's my friend's, Even when my time comes, ne'er believe me so soft As for grief to be taken aback; For the same little cherub that sits up aloft Charles Dibdin [1745-1814] |