Cheer up, cheer up, my mother dear!
Ah! Why do you sit and weep?
Do you think that he who guards me here,
Forsakes me on the deep?
Let hope and faith light up your glance,
When you see our ship set sail;
Look, look at her now, and see her dance;
Oh! Why do you turn so pale?
There’s an English flag, and an English crew;
So, mother, be proud of your boy in blue.
Ah! Wonder not that, next to thee,
I love the galloping wave;
‘Tis the first of coursers, bold and free –
And fit to carry the brave.
It may bear me on to a dark lee-shore,
To sink with a gallant band;
But early or late – here’s a heart for my fate,
Let it come on the sea or the land.
The storm and the battle shall find me true,
So, mother, be proud of your boy in blue.
And if the breakers kill our ship,
And your boy goes down in the foam,
Be sure the last breath on his lip
Was a prayer for those at home.
But come, cheer up! methinks I heard
A voice in the anchor chain,
That whispered, like a fairy bird,
‘The Ship will come again.’
God bless thee, mother, adieu, adieu!
But never weep for your boy in blue.
(Eliza Cook)
More Poetry from Eliza Cook:
Eliza Cook Poems based on Topics: Courage, Home, Mothers, Prayers, Fairy, War & Peace, Fate & Destiny, Dancing, Birds, English, Curiosity- Black Bess (Eliza Cook Poems)
- Be Kind When You Can (Eliza Cook Poems)
- The Flag of the Free (Eliza Cook Poems)
- The Banner of Union (Eliza Cook Poems)
- Grey-eyed mabel (Eliza Cook Poems)
- I Leave Thee for Awhile (Eliza Cook Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: War & Peace Poems, Home Poems, Birds Poems, Fate & Destiny Poems, Prayers Poems, Mothers Poems, Courage Poems, Dancing Poems, Curiosity Poems, Fairy Poems, English PoemsBased on Keywords: lee-shore