Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO, by MRS. JOHN GRAY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO, by                    
First Line: Two hundred years, two hundred years, our bark o'er billowy / seas
Last Line: Just as the left old westminster, two hundred years ago!
Alternate Author Name(s): Lewers, Miss
Subject(s): Religion; Theology


Two hundred years, two hundred years, our bark o'er billowy seas,
Has onward kept her steady course, through hurricane and breeze;
Her Captain was the mighty One, she braved the stormy foe,
And still He guides who guided her, two hundred years ago.

Her chart was God's unerring word, by which her course to steer,
Her helmsman was the risen Lord, a helper ever near;
Though many a beauteous boat has sunk the treacherous wave below,
Yet ours is sound as she was built, two hundred years ago.

The wind that fill'd her swelling sheet from many a poin has blown,
Still urging her unchanging course through shoals and breakers on,
Her fluttering pennon still the same whatever breeze might blow,
It pointed, as it does to heaven, two hundred years ago.

When first our gallant ship was launch'd, although her hands were few,
Yet dauntless was each bosom found, and every heart was true!
And still, though in her mighty hull unnumber'd bosoms glow,
Her crew is faithful, as it was two hundred years ago!

True, some have left this noble craft, to sail the seas alone,
And made them in their hour of pride a vessel of their own;
Ah me! when clouds portentous rise, when threatening tempests blow,
They'll wish for that old vessel built two hundred years ago!

For onward rides our gallant bark, with all her canvass set,
In many a nation still unknown, to plant her standard yet;
Her flag shall float where'er the breeze of freedom's breath shall blow,
And millions bless the boat that sail'd two hundred years ago!

On Scotia's coast, in days of yore, she lay almost a wreck,
Her mainmast gone, her rigging torn, the boarders on the deck,
There Cameron, Cargill, Cochran fell, there Renwick's blood did flow,
Defending our good vessel built two hundred years ago!

Ah! many a martyr's blood was shed, we may not name them all;
They tore the peasant from his hut, the noble from his hall,
Then, brave Argyle, thy father's blood for faith did freely flow,
And pure the stream as was the fount two hundred years ago!

Yet onward still our vessel press'd, and weather'd out the gale;
She clear'd the wreck, and spliced the mast, and mended every sail;
And swifter, stauncher, mightier far, upon her cruise did go;
Strong hands and gallant hearts had she two hundred years ago!

And see her now on beam-ends cast, beneath a north-west storm,
Heave overboard the very bread to save the ship from harm
She rights! she rides! hark how they cheer, All's well! above below!
She's tight as when she left the stocks two hundred years ago.

True to that guiding star which led to Israel's cradled hope,
Her steady needle pointeth yet to Calvary's bloody top!
Yes, there she floats, that good old ship, from mast to keel below
Sea-worthy still, as erst she was two hundred years ago!

Not unto us, not unto us, be praise or glory given,
But unto Him who watch and ward hath kept for us in heaven;
Who quell'd the whirlwind in its wrath, bade tempests cease to blow,
That God who launch'd our vessel forth two hundred years ago!

Then onward speed thee, brave old bark, speed onward in thy pride,
O'er sunny seas and billows dark, Jehovah still thy guide;
And sacred be each plank and spar, unchanged by friend or foe,
Just as the left Old Westminster, two hundred years ago!





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