Poems (Sharpless)/The Tale of a Ship
THE TALE OF A SHIP
Into the haven at last
Storm-driven she flees!
A fluttering rag at her mast,
A wreck from the seas.
Storm-driven she flees!
A fluttering rag at her mast,
A wreck from the seas.
Tender and blue was the sky
In the morn when she sailed;
So she lingered; the hours flew by
Till the daylight had paled.
In the morn when she sailed;
So she lingered; the hours flew by
Till the daylight had paled.
Then the tempest broke forth o'er the world
And lashed the wild wave:
All the waters upon her seemed hurled;
Yet she held true and brave.
And lashed the wild wave:
All the waters upon her seemed hurled;
Yet she held true and brave.
The horrors of sky and of sea
Made her staunch timbers thrill,
Yet she stayed not her course, nay, not she,
But struggled on still.
Made her staunch timbers thrill,
Yet she stayed not her course, nay, not she,
But struggled on still.
Stripped of her beauty and pride,
Sorely crippled, and strained,
Her victory's sign doth abide,
For her flag hath remained.
Sorely crippled, and strained,
Her victory's sign doth abide,
For her flag hath remained.
In harbor at last! broken! old!
In peace rests she now!
This tale of a ship I have told,
Is it I? Is it thou?
In peace rests she now!
This tale of a ship I have told,
Is it I? Is it thou?