Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume V. Nature. 1904. | | | | VII. The Sea | | “A wet sheet and a flowing sea” | | Allan Cunningham (1784–1842) |
| | | A WET sheet and a flowing sea,— | |
| A wind that follows fast, | |
| And fills the white and rustling sail, | |
| And bends the gallant mast,— | |
| And bends the gallant mast, my boys, | 5 |
| While, like the eagle free, | |
| Away the good ship flies, and leaves | |
| Old England on the lee. | |
| |
| O for a soft and gentle wind! | |
| I heard a fair one cry; | 10 |
| But give to me the snoring breeze | |
| And white waves heaving high,— | |
| And white waves heaving high, my boys, | |
| The good ship tight and free; | |
| The world of waters is our home, | 15 |
| And merry men are we. | |
| |
| There ’s tempest in yon hornèd moon, | |
| And lightning in yon cloud; | |
| And hark the music, mariners! | |
| The wind is piping loud,— | 20 |
| The wind is piping loud, my boys, | |
| The lightning flashing free; | |
| While the hollow oak our palace is, | |
| Our heritage the sea. | | | | |
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