Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AT SEA, by GEORGE LUNT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AT SEA, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It was off the cliffs of scituate
Last Line: By that wild, treacherous shore.
Subject(s): Scituate, Massachusetts; Sea; Ocean


IT was off the cliffs of Scituate,
In old Massachusetts Bay,
We took a stiff northeaster,
About the break of day;
Lord! how it howled and whistled
Through the ratlines and the shrouds,
As the icy snow dashed pelting
Through the scud of lowering clouds!

Outspoke then our bold captain, --
"She fairly drifts astern;
Against this gale no Boston
Can the good barque make, this turn;
To beach her were but madness,
Where the wild surf runs so high, --
Under our lee lies Scituate,
And there we can but try."

Then "Hard up!" cried the captain, --
Like a bird she bore away,
The blast just struck her quarter,
And she flew across the bay;
Before us broke the dreaded bar,
And by the helmsman stood
Our captain, as the brave barque plunged
Into the foam-tossed flood.

One plunge! the strong wave lifted her, --
Aghast stood all the crew!
Again, -- she rose upon the surge, --
And it brought her safely through.
Now, God bless Scituate Harbor,
And be blessed forevermore,
Who saved us from the sea's cold clasp,
By that wild, treacherous shore.





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