To him, who, many a night upon the main,
At mid-watch, from the bounding vessel’s side,
Shivering, has listened to the rocking tide,
Oh, how delightful smile thy views again,
Fair Land! the sheltered hut, and far-seen mill
That safe sails round and round; the tripping rill
That o’er the gray sand glitters; the clear sky,
Beneath whose blue vault shines the village tower,
That high elms, swaying in the wind, embower;
And hedge-rows, where the small birds’ melody
Solace the lithe and loitering peasant lad!
O Stranger! is thy pausing fancy sad
At thought of many evils which do press
On wide humanity!–Look up; address
The GOD who made the world; but let thy heart
Be thankful, though some heavy thoughts have part,
That, sheltered from the human storms’ career,
Thou meetest innocence and quiet here.
(William Lisle Bowles)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, World Poems, Night Poems, Mind Poems, Fairness Poems, Thought & Thinking Poems, Work & Career Poems, Humanity PoemsBased on Keywords: far-seen, meetest, hedge-rows, mid-watch