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larryhammerIt's the start of Midday Watch (in my time zone, anyway) and so time for Sea Poetry Monday:
“A wet sheet and a flowing sea,” Allan Cunningham
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 hornèd 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.
Allan Cunningham (1784-1842) was a Scottish poet and novelist -- a friend of Burns, Scott, and Hogg -- and several of his brothers and sons were also authors and/or poets. He wasn't a sailor himself, but a close brother was a naval surgeon. This poem has been set to music many times, and it's easy to find multiple recordings.
(Eventually I'll return to land, but I've still a few more oceananica in the queue.)
---L.
Subject quote from Songs of Seven, Seven Times Two: Romance, Jean Ingelow.
“A wet sheet and a flowing sea,” Allan Cunningham
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 hornèd 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.
Allan Cunningham (1784-1842) was a Scottish poet and novelist -- a friend of Burns, Scott, and Hogg -- and several of his brothers and sons were also authors and/or poets. He wasn't a sailor himself, but a close brother was a naval surgeon. This poem has been set to music many times, and it's easy to find multiple recordings.
(Eventually I'll return to land, but I've still a few more oceananica in the queue.)
---L.
Subject quote from Songs of Seven, Seven Times Two: Romance, Jean Ingelow.
no subject
Date: 7 May 2018 03:17 pm (UTC)I've just been posting Edward Thomas on roads myself! :o)
no subject
Date: 7 May 2018 03:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7 May 2018 05:25 pm (UTC)Our heritage the sea.
Nice.
no subject
Date: 7 May 2018 08:31 pm (UTC)