| |
| THE WARY sea-bird screams afar— | |
| Along the wave dire omens sweep— | |
| From the veil’d sky no friendly star | |
| Beams on the undulating deep. | |
| |
| Hark! from the cliffs of distant shores, | 5 |
| The Lom emits his dismal cry— | |
| The wave portentous warning roars, | |
| And speaks the threatening tempest nigh. | |
| |
| What guardian angel’s watchful power | |
| Shall snatch me from the angry deep, | 10 |
| Or bid, in that tremendous hour, | |
| The demon of the waters sleep? | |
| |
| Or who, if on some desert wild | |
| I drift, weak, famished and distrest, | |
| Shall hush the sorrows of my child, | 15 |
| Or soothe Lavinia’s wounded breast? | |
| |
| Sweet objects of my early love, | |
| For you with aching heart I mourn; | |
| Far from your peaceful vale I rove, | |
| Ah! hopeless ever to return! | 20 |
| |
| Yet, should it be my happy lot | |
| To hail again my native shore, | |
| Secure within my humble cot, | |
| I ’ll brave the restless deep no more.” | |
| |
| His prayer was heard—the rolling bark | 25 |
| Rode through the storm with stubborn pride; | |
| And William, blithe as morning lark, | |
| Flew to his sweet enraptured bride. | |
| |
| Yet Will, with love and liquor warm, | |
| Ere yet a month had pass’d in glee, | 30 |
| Forgot the terrors of the storm, | |
| And, singing, squared away for sea! | |
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