'TIS A WILD NIGHT AT SEA.
Thicker and wider the gloom stretch'd out,
With a flush of angry red;
Till the hissing lightning blazed about,
And the forest bent its head.
With a flush of angry red;
Till the hissing lightning blazed about,
And the forest bent its head.
A maiden look'd from a lattice-pane
Toward where the ocean lay;
And her gaze was fix'd with earnest strain
On the beacon, leagues away.
Toward where the ocean lay;
And her gaze was fix'd with earnest strain
On the beacon, leagues away.
She knew that he who had won her soul
Was getting close to land;
And she clutched at every thunder roll
With a hard, convulsive hand.
Was getting close to land;
And she clutched at every thunder roll
With a hard, convulsive hand.
He had promised he would sail no more
To far and fearful climes;
He had talk'd of a cottage on the shore,
And the sound of wedding chimes.
To far and fearful climes;
He had talk'd of a cottage on the shore,
And the sound of wedding chimes.
They had loved each other many a year,
They had grown up side by side;
She had reckon'd the days—his ship must be near—
He was coming to claim his bride.
They had grown up side by side;
She had reckon'd the days—his ship must be near—
He was coming to claim his bride.
An old crone pass'd the lattice-pane,—
"God help us all!" quoth she;
'Tis bad on the mountain, but worse on the main,—
'Tis a wild night at sea!"
"God help us all!" quoth she;
'Tis bad on the mountain, but worse on the main,—
'Tis a wild night at sea!"
The maiden heard, but never stirr'd
Her gaze from the beacon lamp;
Her heart alone felt a sepulchre-stone
Roll up to it, heavy and damp.
Her gaze from the beacon lamp;
Her heart alone felt a sepulchre-stone
Roll up to it, heavy and damp.
A gray-hair'd mariner look'd around,—
"Here's a wind," cried he:
"May God preserve the homeward bound;
"Tis a wild night at sea!"
"Here's a wind," cried he:
"May God preserve the homeward bound;
"Tis a wild night at sea!"
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