WHEN freshly blows the northern gale, And under courses snug we fly; When lighter breezes swell the sail, And royals proudly sweep the sky; 'Longside the wheel, unwearied still I stand, and as my watchful eye Doth mark the needle's faithful thrill, I think of her I love, and cry, Port, my boy! port. When calms delay, or breezes blow Right from the point we wish to steer; When by the wind close-haul'd we go, And strive in vain the port to near; I think 'tis thus the fates defer My bliss with one that's far away, And while remembrance springs to her, I watch the sails, and sighing say, Thus, my boy! thus. But see, the wind draws kindly aft, All hands are up the yards to square, And now the floating stu'n-sails waft Our stately ship through waves and air. Oh! then I think that yet for me Some breeze of fortune thus may spring, Some breeze to waft me, love, to thee! And in that hope I smiling sing, Steady, boy! so. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE WORLD-SOUL by RALPH WALDO EMERSON THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 31. HER GIFTS by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY by JOHN STERLING (1806-1844) IO VICTIS by WILLIAM WETMORE STORY IN THE VALLEY OF CAUTERETZ by ALFRED TENNYSON |