CALM at sea! His beams all radiant Throws the sun across the water, And amid the heaving jewels, Furrows green the ship is tracing. Near the steersman lies the boatswain On his stomach, snoring gently; Near the mast, the sails repairing, Squats the cabin-boy, all-tarry But behind his cheeks so dirty Red blood springs, a mournful quiv'ring Round his wide mouth plays, and sadly Stare his eyes, so large and handsome. For the captain stands before him, Raving, cursing, "thief" exclaiming: "Thief! a herring you have stolen "From the barrel, O you rascal!" Calm at sea! From out the waters Lifts himself a clever fishkin; In the sun his head he warmeth, Splashing with his tail so gaily. But the sea-mew, soaring over, Shooteth down upon the fishkin, And his sudden prize fast holding In his bill, again mounts upward. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA by SAMUEL HAWKINS MARSHALL BYERS THE SEEDLING by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR BY THE PACIFIC OCEAN by CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER FLOWERS WITHOUT FRUIT by JOHN HENRY NEWMAN SONNET: 5 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE WRITTEN ON A MARBLE by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD BRUCE: HOW AYMER DE VALENCE, AND JOHN OF LORN CHASED THE BRUCE ... by JOHN BARBOUR |