MY SHIPMarch 17, 1903. A showery day at Crab Beach(Her boat appearing over-arched by a rainbow)
On the joyful day that my ship comes in, I shall be, oh, so happy and good; All the girls shall have presents of strings of pearls, And no one shall want for food; In silks and velvets and ermine clad, I shall walk about like a real queen; But why is my trade so long delayed, And why is my ship not seen?
I gaze through my magical glass, and—behold! In a distant clime my ship speeds on, In a summer breeze, o'er the perfumed seas, In the glow of the setting sun. Her sails are embroidered damask so fine, With jewels glitter and glisten her spars, And below in the hold are the silver and gold And copper in solid bars.
She leaves in her wake a line of foam, She is manned by a gallant crew; At the head of her mast my ensign flies fast, Sunflower in field of blue; And strains of sweet music are wafted afar, Oh, truly my fortune seems wondrous fair; I turn me aside in contentment and pride And the vision fades into air.
And now I hear voices with sad warning fraught Of the treacherous deep and its mystery; They tell me strange tales of furious gales That brood on that summer sea. They tell me of currents and quicksands and reefs, Of an ocean the width of the whole world's span, Of boats tempest-tost that were foundered and lost And nevermore seen by man.
Then again I look into my magical glass, (Oh, gift beyond price of the fairy named Hope), I see by her sails my ship's weathered some gales, But sound is each spar and each rope. She sails through an arch by a rainbow made Towards me both smoothly and fast; My sunflower gay proudly waves on the way And my ship will come in at last.
