Poems (Hooper)/The Voyage of Life

by Lucy Hamilton Hooper

THE VOYAGE OF LIFE.

Dawn is shining o'er the waters
 Where a gilded galley lies;
And a baby's sinless laughter
 Floats like incense to the skies.
And the perfumed breeze is laden
 With the sounds of childish glee:
We are drifting, we are drifting
 Ever downward to the sea.

It is morning on the waters,
 And the skies shine bright above;
And our lips are tuned to gladness,
 And we sing of life and love.
"Every wave on life's dark waters
 Holds an image, love, of thee!"
So we sing the while we're drifting
 Ever downward to the sea.

It is noon upon the waters,
 And we stand erect and strong,
And the rocky banks re-echo
 To the burden of our song:
"Life's a struggle, life's a battle,
 And its warriors are we."
So we sing the while we're drifting
 Ever downward to the sea.

It is evening on the waters,
 And our song has died away.
We are weary of the sunlight;
 We are weary of the day.
"Give us rest, and give us mem'ry!
 Life, we crave no more from thee!"
We are drifting, we are drifting
 Ever downward to the sea.

It is night upon the waters,
 And the gilded bark is gone;
And the moonlight's veil of silver
 Lies upon the waves alone.
Round the river's mouth the ocean
 Moans in mournful melody;
We have drifted, we have drifted
 Downward, downward to the sea.