And from the port the ship set out,
Leaving the land far, far behind,
Until the dark night closed around—
Onward flew the ship, and on, left to the mercy of the wind.
Leaving the land far, far behind,
Until the dark night closed around—
Onward flew the ship, and on, left to the mercy of the wind.
An awful sound of splintering wood,
A shuddering, shivering shock—
Upon a hidden rock she struck,
Lapped by the waves which seemed to mock.
A shuddering, shivering shock—
Upon a hidden rock she struck,
Lapped by the waves which seemed to mock.
I sit upon the silent shore,
And think of the ship which left the port;
I watch the cold sea's crested waves
Which creep up to my feet and then fall short.
And think of the ship which left the port;
I watch the cold sea's crested waves
Which creep up to my feet and then fall short.
Thus are the vain ambitions and the petty aims of man,
Which arrogantly aspire to the skies;
Thus do they e'er fall short
With ne'er a sight of the desired prize.
Which arrogantly aspire to the skies;
Thus do they e'er fall short
With ne'er a sight of the desired prize.
We are but driftwood on the Sea of Life,
Buffeted and tossed by the waves of Chance,
Until, when crashing 'gainst the Rock of Fate,
We are cast upon the Shores of Circumstance.
Buffeted and tossed by the waves of Chance,
Until, when crashing 'gainst the Rock of Fate,
We are cast upon the Shores of Circumstance.
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