The Stormy Petrel.
A Petrel flies over a body of water during a storm. There are large waves in the water
and dark clouds in the sky. 1/10
page.
A thousand miles from land are we,1
Tossing about on the roaring sea ;2
From billow to bounding billow cast,3
Like fleecy snow on the story blast :4
The sails are scattered abroad, like weeds,5
The strong masts shake, like quivering reeds,6
The mighty cables, and iron chains,7
The hull, which all earthly strength disdains,8
They strain and they crack, and hearts like stone9
Their natural hard proud strength disown10
Up and down ! up and down !11
From the base of the wave to the billow’s crown,12
And admidst the flashing and feathery foam13
The Stormy Petrel finds a home,—14
A home, if such a place may be,15
For her who lives on the wide wide sea,16
On the craggy ice, in the frozen air,17
And only seeketh her rocky lair18
To warm her young, and to teach them spring19
At once o’er the waves on their stormy wing !20
O’er the deep ! O’er the deep !21
Where the whale, and the shark, and the sword-fish sleep,22
Outflying the blast and the driving rain,23
The Petrel tellethher tale—in vain ;24
For the mariner curseth the warning bird25
Who bringeth him news of the storms unheard !26
Ah ! thus does the prophet, of good or ill,27
Meet hate from the creatures he serveth still :28
Yet he ne’er falters :— So, Petrel ! spring29
Once more o’er the waves on thy stormy wing !30