464. 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,

  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;

  But give to me the snoring breeze

  And white waves heaving high;

  And white waves heaving high, my lads,

  The good ship tight and free—

  The world of waters is our home,

  And merry men are we.

  There’s tempest in yon horne´d moon,

  And lightning in yon cloud;

  But hark the music, mariners!

  The wind is piping loud;

  The wind is piping loud, my boys,

  The lightning flashes free—

  While the hollow oak our palace is,

  Our heritage the sea.