THE ship came sailing, sailing, Into our old town -- My love combed out her golden hair; It fell to the hem of her gown. Oh, my heart, break! No master and no crew was hers, A ship of the dead was she, And sailing, sailing, sailing -- The folk ran out to see. Oh, my heart, break! And first they said nor yea, nor nay; Then some began to weep; And some did count their little lads, As a shepherd counts his sheep. Oh, my heart, break! Oh, sailing, sailing, sailing -- "Whom will it be?" said they; "She never sails to this our town But one doth go away." Oh, my heart, break! "Yea, one will go from this our town And come back nevermore; Whate'er His will, Lord God is good;" Thus I at my love's door. Oh, my heart, break! Thereat I turned into the house And climbed up my love's stair, And called her softly -- through the dusk I saw her golden hair. Oh, my heart, break! Who went away from our old town And came back nevermore? It was my love; she lay there dead Upon the chamber floor. Oh, my heart break! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BALLAD OF THE GIBBET by FRANCOIS VILLON THE BALLAD OF CHRISTMAS by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE THE CLIFF SWALLOWS by DEBRA NYSTROM A CHRISTMAS CAROL by GEORGE WITHER ON GOOD FRIDAY, THE DAY OF OUR SAVIOUR'S PASSION by PHILIP AYRES |