WHEN my turn comes, dear shipmates all, Oh, do not weep for me; Wrap me up in a hammock tight, And put me into the sea; For it's no good weeping When a shipmate's sleeping, And the long watch keeping At the bottom of the sea. But think of me sometimes and say: "He did his duty right, And strove the best he knew to please His captain in the fight"; But it's no use weeping When a shipmate's sleeping, And the long watch keeping Through the long, long night. And let my epitaph be these words: "Cleared for this port, alone, A craft that was staunch, and sound, and true — Destination unknown"; And there's no good weeping When a shipmate's sleeping, And the long watch keeping All alone, all alone. And mark this well, my shipmates dear, Alone the long night through, Up there in the darkness behind the stars I'll look out sharp for you; So, there's no good weeping When a shipmate's sleeping, And the long watch keeping All the long night through. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WESTERN CIVILIZATION by JAMES GALVIN DOMESDAY BOOK: ALMA BELL TO THE CORONER by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE CHINESE LAUNDRYMAN by KAREN SWENSON BABY BELL by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE GUERDON by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE HAPPY NIGHTINGALE by PHILIP AYRES |