Page:Poems for the Sea.djvu/74

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Poems for the Sea.


The boat! the boat! it launches forth
   Upon the mountain wave,
And shrieking throngs, with frantic haste
   Essay its power to save;
A fragile thing, it darkly strives
   Amid the wrathful tide,
And deep, unutter'd pangs are theirs
   Who leave that vessel's side.

A moonbeam pierced the heavy cloud!
   Alas! what sight was there!
Who stood on that forsaken deck
   In calm and mute despair!
A fair, young maiden, just arous'd
   From slumber soft and dear,
Stretched her white arms in wild amaze,
   But found no helper near.

In sad adieu, her hand she wav'd
   As if some friend she blest,
Then closer drew her snowy robe
   Around her gentle breast,