Heaving of the Lead (1825)/The heaving of the lead
THE HEAVING OF THE LEAD.
For England, when with fav'ring gale,
Our gallant ship up channel steer'd,
And scudding under easy sail,
The high blue western land appear'd;
To heave the lead the seamen sprung,
And to the pilot cheerly sung,
By the deep nine!
And bearing up to gain the port,
Some well-known object kept in view,
An abbey tow'r, a harbour fort,
Or beacon to the vessel true;
While off the lead the seamen flung,
And to the pilot cheerly sung,
By the mark seven!
And, as the much lov'd shore we near,
With transport we behold the roof,
Where dwells a friend, or partner dear,
Of faith and love a matchless proof;
The lead once more the seamen flung,
And to the watchful pilot sung,
Quarter less five!
Now to her birth the ship draws nigh;
We shorten sail—she feels the tide—
Stand clear the cable! is the cry;
The anchor’s gone—we safely ride.
The watch is set, and through the night
We hear the seamen, with delight,
Proclaim—All's well!
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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