Recollections - Ii Poem by Fidelia S T Hill

O it was gorgeous May,
And the hot sun was shining bright,
Behind us Kingston lay,
And fair Port Royal in our sight.
And now our vessel's sails
Were spread to catch the homeward breeze,
We prayed for favouring gales,
To waft us o'er the distant seas.
We praised the Almighty Hand
That still had our protection been,
For we in foreign land
Had peril, pain, and hardship seen.
Yet it pleased God to bless
Our cause and our just right defend,
To grant us full success
And home with brightest hopes to send.
We then at once did hear
On deck a burst of joy resound,
Like magic o'er the ear
It came, and made our bosoms bound.
'Hurra my boys, hurra!
'Away, away, away we go,
'Hurra, my boys, hurra!
'For England and for London ho.'
And as they paced the deck,
The vessel with the chorus rung,
Nor did our Captain check
But joined his sailors as they sung.
Such power there was to melt,
In that most wild, and welcome strain,
As I but once have felt
And never more shall feel again.
Was it then true indeed
That we at length were hast'ning home
From foreign perils freed?
If so we ne'er again would roam
And those alone can tell
Who to their land in absence long,
Have bade a fond farewell
How dear the British sailors' song.
Blest soil that gave us birth,
We hailed our near approach to thee,
Absence had stampt thy worth
Thou land of health and liberty.