Poems (Douglas)/The Cabin Boy
The Cabin Boy.
He knelt, received her blessing, and departed,
The big tears rolling o'er his cheek like rain;
And she, the mourning one, the lonely-hearted,
Wept for her wanderer on the stormy main.
How happy was she when her boy was near her!
With him, alas! she saw each joy depart.
Who, in his absence, could have power to cheer her?—
The fair young darling of her widow'd heart.
The big tears rolling o'er his cheek like rain;
And she, the mourning one, the lonely-hearted,
Wept for her wanderer on the stormy main.
How happy was she when her boy was near her!
With him, alas! she saw each joy depart.
Who, in his absence, could have power to cheer her?—
The fair young darling of her widow'd heart.
For ev'ry gale must wake each sad emotion,
And fancy conjure up such fearful things—
She'll see him struggling in the ruthless ocean,
As to the drifting wreck he wildly clings.
Two years must roll away, of hope and sorrow,
Ere she shall on the deep his bark descry;
But her fond prayer shall follow him each morrow,
And night, in dreams, restore her Cabin Boy.
And fancy conjure up such fearful things—
She'll see him struggling in the ruthless ocean,
As to the drifting wreck he wildly clings.
Two years must roll away, of hope and sorrow,
Ere she shall on the deep his bark descry;
But her fond prayer shall follow him each morrow,
And night, in dreams, restore her Cabin Boy.
Time has roll'd on: to England now returning,
The proud bark lightly bounds o'er sunny seas;
Her white sails gleaming in the beams of morning,
And graceful swelling in the homeward breeze.
The Cabin Boy, with brow all joy and gladness,
And heart with fondest thoughts of home elate,
Stood on the deck; how could one pulse of sadness
Throb in a bosom with such hopes replete?
The proud bark lightly bounds o'er sunny seas;
Her white sails gleaming in the beams of morning,
And graceful swelling in the homeward breeze.
The Cabin Boy, with brow all joy and gladness,
And heart with fondest thoughts of home elate,
Stood on the deck; how could one pulse of sadness
Throb in a bosom with such hopes replete?
Oh! what bright visions sweetly swam before him
Of his loved home! His heart beat wild and high.
Could it indeed be so 2—should night restore him
To his own mother? Lost in ecstacy,
The Boy thus mused, his blue eye softly beaming,
Bright with the hopes that trembled in his breast:
When, lo! a voice aroused from its fond dreaming,
The heart in its own golden visions blest,
With "Wherefore stand you musing there, young dreamer?
Aloft, and hoist old England's colours bright;
We see Britannia's cliffs, before a streamer
Is seen to glitter in the sunset's light."
Of his loved home! His heart beat wild and high.
Could it indeed be so 2—should night restore him
To his own mother? Lost in ecstacy,
The Boy thus mused, his blue eye softly beaming,
Bright with the hopes that trembled in his breast:
When, lo! a voice aroused from its fond dreaming,
The heart in its own golden visions blest,
With "Wherefore stand you musing there, young dreamer?
Aloft, and hoist old England's colours bright;
We see Britannia's cliffs, before a streamer
Is seen to glitter in the sunset's light."
With bounding heart, the gallant boy obeyed—
The flag unfurling with a joyous hand,
As from the mast with rapture he survey'd
The sunny outlines of his native land.
"Huzza!" he cried, when to the top advanced,
"Our own dear England's happy shores are nigh!"
Then from the giddy height he downward glanced—
But, in.the sudden wildness of his joy,
He miss'd his hold: and hark! from the bright ocean
There comes a desperate and fearful scream,
And from the deck they see, with sad emotion,
The struggling boy, and the flag's crimson gleam,
Furl'd closely round him! Vainly they deplore him,
And vain is every effort used to save;
He sinks, the waters glitter brightly o'er him,
The flag his shroud, the restless deep his grave!
The flag unfurling with a joyous hand,
As from the mast with rapture he survey'd
The sunny outlines of his native land.
"Huzza!" he cried, when to the top advanced,
"Our own dear England's happy shores are nigh!"
Then from the giddy height he downward glanced—
But, in.the sudden wildness of his joy,
He miss'd his hold: and hark! from the bright ocean
There comes a desperate and fearful scream,
And from the deck they see, with sad emotion,
The struggling boy, and the flag's crimson gleam,
Furl'd closely round him! Vainly they deplore him,
And vain is every effort used to save;
He sinks, the waters glitter brightly o'er him,
The flag his shroud, the restless deep his grave!