My Phantom Ships.
I heard the plunging of the sea
Like a wild steed pursuing me,
And dark and frothy was the main;
But suddenly a checking rein
Seemed drawn, and panting on the shore,
I heard the billows’ frightful roar.
My dream betook a different hue,
Caught from the ocean’s changeful blue.
A door was opened in my heart,
From which I saw each fear depart,
And there from some far, happy isle,
The sea breeze came as would a smile
Oh! it was sweet to wander there,
The sky o’erhanging still and bare.
A cloud, in some soft raiment dressed,
Leaned like a bride upon the west;
The sea-gulls floated on the breeze
Like blossoms blown from April trees.
The wind just kissed by summer’s mouth
Walked like a lover from the South;
And jewels from a sunbeam’s hand
Were sprinkled on the snowy sand;
The breakers ran along the beach,
And scattered shells within my reach.
I stooped and held one to my ear,
And listened as to voices dear;
And then methought far, far away,
Where purple mists made dim the day,
I saw the motion of a ship
That from the heavens seemed to slip.
On, on it came with fluttering sail,
Strong blew the steady ocean gale.
The waves were running thick and high,
And kept the ship close to the sky;
It seemed a picture on the sea,
“A picture,” thought I, “can it be?”
But from the waves the wind withdrew
And brought the sailors close to view.
The pilot pointed to the shore,
And then to gems and shining ore
Piled up against the good ship’s side
That leaned so brave upon the tide.
Oh! there were silks of colors soft,
And plumes that proudly waved aloft;
And there were jewels, bags of gold,
From caves o’er which the water rolled,
And coral crowns--gifts of the sea--
And all of this for whom? _For me._
With open arms to meet the ship
I ran, and proudly curled my lip.
No one should know from whence it came,
And none should share my wealth and fame.
My gowns of silk with me should roam,
My gold I’d closet at my home.
Ah, me! I knew not what I thought.
The ship was by a whirlwind caught.
It staggered out upon the sea--
I heard the sailors cursing me;
A flash fell from the lowering night,
And down the brave ship sank from sight.
* * * * *
I walk again upon the sands
With aching heart and empty hands.
Sometimes a piece of broken mast
Upon the tide goes sailing past;
And, where the sun so friendly shone,
A shadow on the sand has grown.
A strange and half-distracted dream
Comes just behind the sea-gull’s scream.
The sinking ship again I see,
The sailors hurl their oaths at me,
And like an echo from the grave
Is the sad song of wind and wave.
But somewhere, under bluer skies,
Another ship in harbor lies.
Its flags are flying free and fast,
The sails are white, and strong the mast.
’Tis loaded, too, with precious freight,
And for the same I stand and wait.
When it comes home I’ll happy be,
And all share my joy with me.
My wines at other feasts I’ll pour,
The sorrowful shall smile--yea, more,
The poor shall not be turned away,
And one and all shall bless the day.
PABLO BEACH, FLA., January, 1887.
The Weight of a Word.
Have you ever thought of the weight of a word
That falls in the heart like the song of a bird,
That gladdens the springtime of memory and youth
And garlands with cedar the banner of Truth,
That moistens the harvesting spot of the brain
Like dew-drops that fall on the meadow of grain
Or that shrivels the germ and destroys the fruit
And lies like a worm at the lifeless root?
I saw a farmer at break of day
Hoeing his corn in a careful way;
An enemy came with a drouth in his eye,
Discouraged the worker and hurried by.
The keen-edged blade of the faithful hoe
Dulled on the earth in the long corn row;
The weeds sprung up and their feathers tossed
Over the field and the crop was--_lost_.
A sailor launched on an angry bay
When the heavens entombed the face of day
The wind arose like a beast in pain,
And shook on the billows his yellow name,
The storm beat down as if cursed the cloud,
And the waves held up a dripping shroud--
But, hark! o’er the waters that wildly raved
Came a word of cheer and he was--_saved_.
A poet passed with a song of God
Hid in his heart like a gem in a clod.
His lips were framed to pronounce the thought,
And the music of rhythm its magic wrought;
Feeble at first was the happy trill,
Low was the echo that answered the hill,
But a jealous friend spoke near his side,
And on his lips the sweet song--_died_.
A woman paused where a chandelier
Threw in the darkness its poisoned spear;
Weary and footsore from journeying long,
She had strayed unawares from the right to the wrong.
Angels were beck’ning her back from the den,
Hell and its demons were beck’ning her in;
The tone of an urchin, like one who forgives,
Drew her back and in heaven _that_ sweet word--_lives_.
Words! Words! They are little, yet mighty and brave;
They rescue a nation, an empire save;
They close up the gaps in a fresh bleeding heart
That sickness and sorrow have severed apart,
They fall on the path, like a ray of the sun,
Where the shadows of death lay so heavy upon;
They lighten the earth over our blessed dead,
A word that will comfort, oh! leave not unsaid.
An Apology.