Poems (Toke)/The meeting ships
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
WIFT bounding o'er the shoreless tide,
A gallant bark sweeps on,
And seems as if in conscious pride
She walks the waves alone.
She spreads her white wings to the wind,
And dashes through the foam,
As blithe as if she left behind
No friendly heart or home.
THE MEETING SHIPS.
WIFT bounding o'er the shoreless tide,A gallant bark sweeps on,
And seems as if in conscious pride
She walks the waves alone.
She spreads her white wings to the wind,
And dashes through the foam,
As blithe as if she left behind
No friendly heart or home.
And yet, of all the forms she bears
Across the boundless main,
How few shall gaze through joyful tears
On England's cliffs again!
In Eastern climes, far, far away,
On India's burning shore,
Lull many a heart, now glad and gay,
Must sleep to wake no more.
Across the boundless main,
How few shall gaze through joyful tears
On England's cliffs again!
In Eastern climes, far, far away,
On India's burning shore,
Lull many a heart, now glad and gay,
Must sleep to wake no more.
Yet on, ye hopeful hearts, and thou,
Our gallant ship, speed on;
Amid the world of waters now,
Thou art not all alone.—
For lo! a speck upon the wave
Attracts each gazing eye:
It nears, and now a bark as brave
As that she meets draws nigh.
Our gallant ship, speed on;
Amid the world of waters now,
Thou art not all alone.—
For lo! a speck upon the wave
Attracts each gazing eye:
It nears, and now a bark as brave
As that she meets draws nigh.
A homeward bound! right merrily
She ploughs the stormy main,
With many a heart that yearns to see
Fair Albion's shores again.
Returning from that distant land,
Where toilsome years had sped,
They meet the gallant exile band,
Bound the same path to tread.
She ploughs the stormy main,
With many a heart that yearns to see
Fair Albion's shores again.
Returning from that distant land,
Where toilsome years had sped,
They meet the gallant exile band,
Bound the same path to tread.
They meet upon the boundless waste,
The melancholy sea,
And one short hour of converse past,
Speed onward and away.
Brief words exchanged, kind greetings said,
Each, as she hastens on,
And sees the other slowly fade,
Feels doubly now alone.
The melancholy sea,
And one short hour of converse past,
Speed onward and away.
Brief words exchanged, kind greetings said,
Each, as she hastens on,
And sees the other slowly fade,
Feels doubly now alone.
Sudden they met, too soon to part,—
Yet still that social hour
Has stirred the depths of many a heart
With deep and 'whelming power;
The homeward bound still lingers there,
And blent with struggling sighs,
Man's blessing, woman's tearful prayer,
Breathe on her as she flies.
Yet still that social hour
Has stirred the depths of many a heart
With deep and 'whelming power;
The homeward bound still lingers there,
And blent with struggling sighs,
Man's blessing, woman's tearful prayer,
Breathe on her as she flies.
Does she not seek their Fatherland,
Far o'er the ocean foam,—
Friends, country, all the cherished band
That cluster round their home?
Oh! as the wanderers watch, how fast
She bounds upon her way,
The seaboy on her rocking mast
Seems happier far than they.
Far o'er the ocean foam,—
Friends, country, all the cherished band
That cluster round their home?
Oh! as the wanderers watch, how fast
She bounds upon her way,
The seaboy on her rocking mast
Seems happier far than they.
No marvel that Hope flies awhile
Those scenes she strewed with flowers,
And Memory's mingling tear and smile,
Be-light departed hours;
No marvel that the eastern skies,
So bright to fancy's dreams,
Should fade as wakening thoughts arise
Of England's woods and streams.
Those scenes she strewed with flowers,
And Memory's mingling tear and smile,
Be-light departed hours;
No marvel that the eastern skies,
So bright to fancy's dreams,
Should fade as wakening thoughts arise
Of England's woods and streams.
'Tis past! Upon th' horizon's verge
The last faint shadow dies,
And now the wide unbroken surge
Blends with the meeting skies;
Evening comes down upon the deep,
From storm or ruffle free,
And calm as infant's dreamless sleep,
Night falls upon the sea.
The last faint shadow dies,
And now the wide unbroken surge
Blends with the meeting skies;
Evening comes down upon the deep,
From storm or ruffle free,
And calm as infant's dreamless sleep,
Night falls upon the sea.
Rest, wanderers, rest in peace once more,
Rocked on the billows' foam,
And dream, amid the ocean roar,
Of loved ones and of home.
And oh! when youth is on the wane,
And life's green leaves are sere,
May ye return in peace again,
To all on earth most dear.
Rocked on the billows' foam,
And dream, amid the ocean roar,
Of loved ones and of home.
And oh! when youth is on the wane,
And life's green leaves are sere,
May ye return in peace again,
To all on earth most dear.
E.
December, 1836.