ON THE STORMY PETREL.
7
Where human hand or foot
Never may be?
Never may be?
Dost thou from such lone spot
Launch o'er the flood,
Bringing along with thee
Thy youthful brood?—
Launch o'er the flood,
Bringing along with thee
Thy youthful brood?—
Over the deep, deep sea
Like thee to fly,
Like thee to bring their young,
Flutter,—and die?
Like thee to fly,
Like thee to bring their young,
Flutter,—and die?
Bird of existence brief)
Man is like thee,
Launching he knows not where,
O'er a wide sea;
Man is like thee,
Launching he knows not where,
O'er a wide sea;
Tossed on the billows
Of life's stormy wave,
Restless as thou
Till he sinks in the grave;
Of life's stormy wave,
Restless as thou
Till he sinks in the grave;
