Poems (Cook)/The English Ship by Moonlight

by Eliza Cook

THE ENGLISH SHIP BY MOONLIGHT.

The world below hath not for me
 Such a fair and glorious sight,
As an English ship on a rippling sea,
 In the full moon's placid light.

My heart leaps high as I fix my eye
 On her dark and sweeping hull,
Laying its breast on the billowy nest,
 Like the tired, sleeping gull.

The masts spring up, all tall and bold,
 With their heads among the stars;
The white sails gleam in the silvery beam
 Brail'd up to the branching spars.

The wind just breathing to unroll
 A flag that bears no stain,—
Proud ship that need'st no other scroll,
 To warrant thy right on the main.

The sea-boy hanging on the shrouds
 Chants out his fitful song,
And watches the scud of fleecy clouds,
 That melts as it floats along.

Oh! what is there on the sluggard land
 That I love so well to mark,
In the hallowed light of the still midnight;
 As I do a dancing bark!

The ivied tower looks well in that hour,
 And so does an old church spire;
When the gilded vane, and Gothic pane,
 Seem tinged with quivering fire.

The hills shine out in the mellow ray,
 The love-bower gathers a charm;
And beautiful is the chequering play
 On the willow's graceful arm.

But the world below holds not for me
 Such a fair and glorious sight
As a brave ship floating on the sea
 In the full moon's placid light.