Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WHEN MY TURN COMES, by BARRETT EASTMAN


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WHEN MY TURN COMES, by                    
First Line: When my turn comes, dear shipmates all
Last Line: All the long night through.
Subject(s): Death; Duty; Fate; Sailing & Sailors; Dead, The; Destiny; Seamen; Sails


WHEN my turn comes, dear shipmates all,
Oh, do not weep for me;
Wrap me up in a hammock tight,
And put me into the sea;
For it's no good weeping
When a shipmate's sleeping,
And the long watch keeping
At the bottom of the sea.

But think of me sometimes and say:
"He did his duty right,
And strove the best he knew to please
His captain in the fight";
But it's no use weeping
When a shipmate's sleeping,
And the long watch keeping
Through the long, long night.

And let my epitaph be these words:
"Cleared for this port, alone,
A craft that was staunch, and sound, and true —
Destination unknown";
And there's no good weeping
When a shipmate's sleeping,
And the long watch keeping
All alone, all alone.

And mark this well, my shipmates dear,
Alone the long night through,
Up there in the darkness behind the stars
I'll look out sharp for you;
So, there's no good weeping
When a shipmate's sleeping,
And the long watch keeping
All the long night through.





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