By the gaily circling glass/Sailor Boy

SAILOR BOY.

In slumber of midnight the sailor boy lay,
His hammock swung loose at the sport of the wind,
But watch-worn and weary his cares flew away,
And visions of happiness danc'd o’er his mind;
He dreamt of his home, of his dear native bow’rs,
And pleasure that waited on life’s merry morn;
Whilst mem’ry stood sideways, haif-cover’d with tears,
And restor’d every rose, but secreted a thorn.

The jessamine clambers in flow’rs o’er the thatch,
And the swallow sings sweet from her nest in the wall,
All trembling with transport, he raises the latch:
And the voice of belov’d ones reply to the call,
A father bends o’er him with looks of delight,
His cheek is impearl’d with a mother’s warm tear,
And the lips of the boy in a love-kiss unite,
With lips of the maid whom his bosom holds dear.

Oh! sailor boy, sailor boy, never again,
Shall peace, love, or kindred, thy wishes repay,
Unblest, and unhonour’d, down deep in the main,
Full many score fathom thy form shall decay:
Days, months, years, and ages shall circle away,
And still the vast waters above thee shall roll,
Earth loosens thy body, for ever and aye,
Oh! sailor boy, sailor boy, peace to thy soul.