I WATCH THE SHIPS

I WATCH the ships by town and leaWith sails full set glide out to sea,Till by the distant light-house rockThe breakers beat with roar and shockAnd foam fierce flying o'er their decks,While deep below lie ocean's wrecks;What careth she?I stand beside the beaten quayAnd look while laden ships from seaCome proudly home upon the tidelake conquering kings at eventide,Or from fierce fights with wintry galesSteal shoreward now with tattered sails;O cruel sea!I pass once more the old gray pierWhere men have waited many a yearFor ships that ne'er again shall glideBy town and lea on favoring tide,—Strong ships that struggled till the galesOf winter hid their shrouds and sailsIn ocean drear.Soft sailing spirits, how they glideForth on life's fitful sea untriedTo breast the waves and bear the shocksBeyond the guarded light-house rocks,To strive and struggle many a year;Strong souls, indeed, if they can bearLife's wind and tide.I watch beside life's beaten quayThe tides bring back all joyouslyTo anchor by the sheltered shoreSome freighted full with golden storeFrom rich spice-fields and perfumed sandsOf soft, luxuriant tropic lands;O kindly sea!But some have met with wintry gales,And come at last with shattered sailsTo anchor by the old gray pier;While loving ones in hope and fearWait on for some that never moreShall anchor by a peaceful shore;O sad, sad sea!

I WATCH the ships by town and lea

With sails full set glide out to sea,

Till by the distant light-house rock

The breakers beat with roar and shock

And foam fierce flying o'er their decks,

While deep below lie ocean's wrecks;

What careth she?

I stand beside the beaten quayAnd look while laden ships from seaCome proudly home upon the tidelake conquering kings at eventide,Or from fierce fights with wintry galesSteal shoreward now with tattered sails;O cruel sea!

I stand beside the beaten quay

And look while laden ships from sea

Come proudly home upon the tide

lake conquering kings at eventide,

Or from fierce fights with wintry gales

Steal shoreward now with tattered sails;

O cruel sea!

I pass once more the old gray pierWhere men have waited many a yearFor ships that ne'er again shall glideBy town and lea on favoring tide,—Strong ships that struggled till the galesOf winter hid their shrouds and sailsIn ocean drear.

I pass once more the old gray pier

Where men have waited many a year

For ships that ne'er again shall glide

By town and lea on favoring tide,—

Strong ships that struggled till the gales

Of winter hid their shrouds and sails

In ocean drear.

Soft sailing spirits, how they glideForth on life's fitful sea untriedTo breast the waves and bear the shocksBeyond the guarded light-house rocks,To strive and struggle many a year;Strong souls, indeed, if they can bearLife's wind and tide.

Soft sailing spirits, how they glide

Forth on life's fitful sea untried

To breast the waves and bear the shocks

Beyond the guarded light-house rocks,

To strive and struggle many a year;

Strong souls, indeed, if they can bear

Life's wind and tide.

I watch beside life's beaten quayThe tides bring back all joyouslyTo anchor by the sheltered shoreSome freighted full with golden storeFrom rich spice-fields and perfumed sandsOf soft, luxuriant tropic lands;O kindly sea!

I watch beside life's beaten quay

The tides bring back all joyously

To anchor by the sheltered shore

Some freighted full with golden store

From rich spice-fields and perfumed sands

Of soft, luxuriant tropic lands;

O kindly sea!

But some have met with wintry gales,And come at last with shattered sailsTo anchor by the old gray pier;While loving ones in hope and fearWait on for some that never moreShall anchor by a peaceful shore;O sad, sad sea!

But some have met with wintry gales,

And come at last with shattered sails

To anchor by the old gray pier;

While loving ones in hope and fear

Wait on for some that never more

Shall anchor by a peaceful shore;

O sad, sad sea!

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