Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE EXPECTED SHIP, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE EXPECTED SHIP, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Thus I heard a poet say
Last Line: That brings the ship from o'er the sea!
Subject(s): Sea; Ocean


THUS I heard a poet say,
As he sang in merry glee,
"Ah! 't will be a golden day,
When my ship comes o'er the sea!

"I do know a cottage fine,
As a poet's house should be,
And the cottage shall be mine,
When my ship comes o'er the sea!

"I do know a maiden fair,
Fair, and fond, and dear to me,
And we'll be a wedded pair,
When my ship comes o'er the sea!

"And within that cottage fine,
Blest as any king may be,
Every pleasure shall be mine,
When my ship comes o'er the sea!

"To be rich is to be great;
Love is only for the free;
Grant me patience, while I wait
Till my ship comes o'er the sea!"

Months and years have come and gone
Since the poet sang to me,
Yet he still keeps hoping on
For the ship from o'er the sea!

Thus the siren voice of Hope
Whispers still to you and me
Of something in the future's scope,
Some golden ship from o'er the sea!

Never sailor yet hath found,
Looking windward or to lee,
Any vessel homeward bound,
Like that ship from o'er the sea!

Never comes the shining deck;
But that tiny cloud may be --
Though it seems the merest speck --
The promised ship from o'er the sea!

Never looms the swelling sail,
But the wind is blowing free,
And that may be the precious gale
That brings the ship from o'er the sea!





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