The Travellers of the Sea.
Spread thy strong white pinions,1
Traveller of the sea !2
Lo ! the south wind bloweth fresh,3
Where thy course should be.4
Many hearts have ached full sore5
When the rough waves beat the shore ;6
Throbbed like restless ebb and flow7
When billows raged, and winds did blow ;8
Many bright eyes dim have grown9
In that dreary vigil lone,10
Quenching all their light in tears11
Of Agony’s prophetic fears.12
Spread thy broad white pinions,13
Wanderer of the main,14
Thou wilt turn their grief to joy,15
Coming back again !16
Spread thy broad white pinions !17
Hast thou, hid below,18
All the precious cargo stored19
Whence our riches flow ?20
Safe across the perilous deep21
Has it voyaged in careful keep :22
Over sharp-toothed reef and rock,23
Through all the wild cyclone’s shock ;24
O’er the pathless ocean wide,25
Steering by its polar guide.26
Wave and wind made woeful wreck,27
But they cleared above the deck !28
Spread thy broad white pinions !29
Bear it safely in,—30
Take the hard-earned golden fee31
Thou didst fairly win !32
Spread thy storm-beat pinions33
In their native air :34
As a bird that nears her nest35
And her nestlings fair !36
Divers winds have whistled free37
Through thy shrouds on many a sea ;38
Tropic airs, with spicy balm,39
Breathed around thee weary calm ;40
Norland gales have stripped thee bare,41
Bent thy spars, and swept thee clear !42
Bird of Passage ! fold thy wings,43
Past are all these dangerous things !44
Spread thy tattered pinions45
Now thou’rt near thy home—46
Entering on the haven sure,47
Where no tempests come !48
Spread the weary pinions49
Soon,—ah ! soon to close ;50
Home with all its joys is near,51
And at last—repose !52
Oh, how many prayers and hopes,53
Tugged unseen at all thy ropes !54
Longing sighs thy sails did fill,55
Love magnetic drew thee still !56
Little voices, low and deep,57
Prayed for thee, before their sleep,58
Oh, thou ark of many prayers,59
Filled thy sails with heavenly airs !60
Furl thy storm-rent pinions61
Closely to the mast,62
For a watchful Father’s hand63
O’er thy way was cast ;64
Now the haven sought so long,65
Thou hast reached at last !66