Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume V. Nature. 1904. | | | | VII. The Sea | | All ’s Well | | Thomas Dibdin (1771–1841) |
| | From “The British Fleet”
DESERTED by the waning moon, | |
| When skies proclaim night’s cheerless noon, | |
| On tower, or fort, or tented ground | |
| The sentry walks his lonely round; | |
| And should a footstep haply stray | 5 |
| Where caution marks the guarded way, | |
| “Who goes there? Stranger, quickly tell!” | |
| “A friend!” “The word?” “Good-night;” all ’s well. | |
| |
| Or, sailing on the midnight deep, | |
| When weary messmates soundly sleep, | 10 |
| The careful watch patrols the deck, | |
| To guard the ship from foes or wreck; | |
| And while his thoughts oft homewards veer, | |
| Some friendly voice salutes his ear,— | |
| “What cheer? Brother, quickly tell; | 15 |
| Above,—below.” Good-night; all ’s well. | | | | |
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