Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MARINER'S HYMN, by CAROLINE ANNE BOWLES SOUTHEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MARINER'S HYMN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Launch thy bark, mariner! / christian, god speed thee!
Last Line: Heaven is thy home!
Alternate Author Name(s): Bowles, Caroline Anne
Subject(s): Sailing & Sailors


Launch thy bark, mariner!
Christian, God speed thee!
Let loose the rudder-bands --
Good angels lead thee!
Set thy sails warily,
Tempests will come;
Steer thy course steadily;
Christian, steer home!

Look to the weather-bow,
Breakers are round thee;
Let fall the plummet now,
Shallows may ground thee.
Reef in the foresail, there!
Hold the helm fast!
So -- let the vessel wear --
There swept the blast.

"What of the night, watchman?
What of the night?"
"Cloudy, all quiet,
No land yet -- all's right."
Be wakeful, be vigilant;
Danger may be
At an hour when all seemeth
Securest to thee.

How! gains the leak so fast!
Clean out the hold;
Hoist up thy merchandise,
Heave out thy gold;
There -- let the ingots go --
Now the ship rights;
Hurrah! the harbour's near,
Lo! the red lights!

Slacken not sail yet
At inlet or island;
Straight for the beacon steer,
Straight for the high land;
Crowd all thy canvass on,
Cut through the foam:
Christian! cast anchor now,
Heaven is thy home!





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