the spirit's voyage.
61
But that they wear no smile of joy,
And fondly watch its snowy wing,
As if it were a holy thing:—
Why send they forth their boat to be
A plaything for the reckless sea
"Oh, stranger! calm or wild the tide,
Their light canoe will safely glide,
And all unscathed by tempest-shock,
By coral-reef or roughest rock,
Ere morn, its white sail will be furl'd
Forever in the spirit-world.
A viewless hand that bark obeys,
A voice unheard the sea-wave sways,
A thing so holy and so fair,
Serene and safe, is smiling there,
That fiercest winds before it falter,
And into harmless zephyrs alter.
Ah! well may they the wanderer mark;
For know,—within that blessed bark,
The spirit of a little child
Is playing on the waters wild!
Behold our chieftain's burial-ground!
We raised to-day another mound.
Behold its lone and hallow'd tree
So graceful and so fair was she.
And fondly watch its snowy wing,
As if it were a holy thing:—
Why send they forth their boat to be
A plaything for the reckless sea
"Oh, stranger! calm or wild the tide,
Their light canoe will safely glide,
And all unscathed by tempest-shock,
By coral-reef or roughest rock,
Ere morn, its white sail will be furl'd
Forever in the spirit-world.
A viewless hand that bark obeys,
A voice unheard the sea-wave sways,
A thing so holy and so fair,
Serene and safe, is smiling there,
That fiercest winds before it falter,
And into harmless zephyrs alter.
Ah! well may they the wanderer mark;
For know,—within that blessed bark,
The spirit of a little child
Is playing on the waters wild!
Behold our chieftain's burial-ground!
We raised to-day another mound.
Behold its lone and hallow'd tree
So graceful and so fair was she.
