A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea
A WET sheet and a flowing sea,A wind that follows fastAnd fills the white and rustling sailAnd bends the gallant mast;And bends the gallant mast, my boys,While like the eagle freeAway the good ship flies, and leavesOld England on the lee.
O for a soft and gentle wind!I heard a fair one cry;But give to me the snoring breezeAnd 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 horned 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.
GEORGE NOEL GORDON, LORD BYRON 1788–1823