Poems for the Sea/The Mother's blessing on her Sailor Son
THE MOTHER'S BLESSING, ON HER SAILOR SON.
Son of my love, farewell! farewell!
On the wide watery plain
I yield thee to a life of toil,
And Him, who rules the main.
And by those pure and speechless joys
When cradled on my breast,
I met thy waking infant smile,
Or lull'd thy woes to rest,
By that deep thrill, when first thy lip
Its lisping utterance tried,
Or when the evening prayer it breathed
Thy little bed beside,
By the strong hope that never dies
Within a mother's heart,
I bless thee, wanderer of the deep,
While tears of anguish start.
What though no gems, or hoarded gold
To swell thy stores, I bring,
A Parent's blessing maketh strong,
Like guardian angel's wing.
Yes—thou shalt feel when o'er the wave
Thy bark by storms is driven,
A Parent's blessing maketh glad
Next to the hope of Heaven.
Seek thou that hope to gird thy soul
Amid the tossing brine,
Thy Mother's prayer shall meet thee there,
And intercede with thine.
Oh! seek a Saviour's pardoning grace,
That so, on land or sea,
In weal or woe, in life or death,
It may be well with thee.