Written on Board the Medway.
MAN, like a ship with many a sail
Spread to a favouring breeze,
Embarks before Hope’s flattering gale,
Upon the world’s wide seas,
Right sure he will not, cannot fail
To gain his port with ease.
But, like a vessel far at sea
Struck by a sudden squall,
If Fortune (fickle dame!) should flee,
Or Passion should enthral,
Right soon the hapless youth may be
Engulphed and lose his all.
Then let thy spirit, Lord! be given,
Like a fair breeze to blow
And keep my canvas still unriven,
While here I sail below,
Till safely in the port of Heaven,
I let my anchor go!
(John Dunmore Lang)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, World Poems, Youth Poems, Heaven Poems, Fairness Poems, Hope Poems, Passion PoemsBased on Keywords: medway, unriven, engulphed, embarks