STRONG is the love of native home: | |
There vivid fancy casts her eye; | |
Whether on earth or sea we roam, | |
Our native land demands the sigh. | |
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So I, Columbias true-born son, | 5 |
In floating dungeon long confined, | |
Could neer by smiles nor bribes be won | |
To abjure the land I left behind. | |
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Bermudas isle had long beheld, | |
In prison-ship, my cheerless fare, | 10 |
From home and voice of friends withheld, | |
A mournful victim to despair. | |
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At length, one night, a boat astern, | |
With snowy sails allured my gaze; | |
A squall aroseand, now, I burn | 15 |
To leave my jailers in the haze. | |
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Some bread and water all my store, | |
A compass saved in venturous mood: | |
And now, alone, I traverse oer, | |
In open boat, great Neptunes flood. | 20 |
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Twas Sabbath when my frail bark rolld | |
At mercy of the billowy steep; | |
But though no bell to vespers tolld, | |
I found a temple on the deep. | |
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I earnest prayd, that He, whose storms | 25 |
In terror shake the sea and sky, | |
Would take my spirit in his arms, | |
And watch me with a parents eye. | |
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The fair moon lent the sea her light, | |
Her beams upon the surface curld, | 30 |
And dolphins sported, passing bright, | |
Around my little wooden world. | |
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When, sudden, from a silver cloud | |
Advanced sweet Hope, a vision bright! | |
With melting voice she calld aloud, | 35 |
And charmd the silence of the night. | |
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Sea-pilgrim, hail! old Ocean kind, | |
Shall homeward bear his sailor-boy; | |
And soon a mothers arms shall wind | |
Around thy neck with speechless joy. | 40 |
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Thy sisters dear shall, sobbing, dwell | |
About thy form with gushing eye; | |
And she, whose vestal tumults swell, | |
Shall at thy presence cease to sigh. | |
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Nine days had passdthe tenth I knew | 45 |
By signs, that land was not remote: | |
The sea had lost its sable hue, | |
And swallows hoverd round my boat. | |
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Twas sofor, soon, in angel shape, | |
Uprose to view Virginias shore! | 50 |
I land on Henrys welcome cape, | |
I kneel, and humbly God adore! | |
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