66
SONGS, LEGENDS, AND BALLADS.
"A. kneeling man on a frozen bill,
- The sounds of life in the air—
All death and ice—and a minute before
- The sea and the ship were there!
I could not think they were dead and gone.
- And I listened for sound or word:
But the deep sea roar on the desolate shore
- Was the only sound I heard.
mates, I had no heart to thank
- The Lord for the life He gave;
I spread my arms on the ice and cried
- Aloud on my shipmates' grave.
The brave strong lads, with their strength all vain,
- I called them name by name;
And it seemed to me from the dying hearts
- A message upward came—
Ay, mates, a message, up through the ice
- From every sailor's breast:
'Go tell our mothers and wives at home
- To pray for us here at rest.'
