Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MARINER'S HYMN, by ANONYMOUS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MARINER'S HYMN, by                    
First Line: "bark, bravest in battle of billow and breeze!"
Last Line: "queen of my heart, my joy, my pride! / my beautiful bark on the high, bright tide!"
Subject(s): Sailing & Sailors


BARK, bravest in battle of billow and breeze!
True tower in the tempest, dry deck in the seas!
When flash the wild waters, in mountains of might!
You leap through the breakers with bounds of delight!
The high, bright tide! the high, bright tide!
Queen of my heart, my joy, my pride!
My beautiful bark on the high, bright tide!

With robes from the Indies I've dighted my fair,
How swells her white bosom against the blue air!
Right buoyant the craft below, shapely the sail,
And, O God! but to see her rise out of the gale!
On the high, bright tide! the high, bright tide!
Queen of my heart, my joy, my pride!
My beautiful bark on the high, bright tide!

'Grey Deelan, who stands with unchangeable brow,
Behold how the surges race off from her prow,
Behold, and give judgment if ever you've seen
Bark on the waters to peer with my queen.'
On the high, bright tide! the high, bright tide!
Queen of my heart, my joy, my pride!
My beautiful bark on the high, bright tide!

Then answered grey Deelan: 'Since first I withstood
The roar-rush of ocean's tumultuous flood,
By night and day watch I, but never could mark
From seaward or shoreward, a bark like thy bark!'
On the high, bright tide! the high, bright tide!
Queen of my heart, my joy, my pride!
My beautiful bark on the high, bright tide!

'Lord of the heavens!' the mariners pray,
'Give succour, give shelter, keep, keep her away!
She cleaves the blue billows, she comes like a flash,
And through us and o'er us she'll instantly dash!'
On the high, bright tide! the high, bright tide!
Queen of my heart, my joy, my pride!
My beautiful bark on the high, bright tide!





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