A Sailor's Song Poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar

A Sailor's Song

Rating: 3.2


Oh for the breath of the briny deep,
And the tug of the bellying sail,
With the sea-gull's cry across the sky
And a passing boatman's hail.
For, be she fierce or be she gay,
The sea is a famous friend alway.

Ho! for the plains where the dolphins play,
And the bend of the mast and spars,
And a fight at night with the wild sea-sprite
When the foam has drowned the stars.
And, pray, what joy can the landsman feel
Like the rise and fall of a sliding keel?

Fair is the mead; the lawn is fair
And the birds sing sweet on the lea;
But the echo soft of a song aloft
Is the strain that pleases me;
And swish of rope and ring of chain
Are music to men who sail the main.

Then, if you love me, let me sail
While a vessel dares the deep;
For the ship 's my wife, and the breath of life
Are the raging gales that sweep;
And when I 'm done with calm and blast,
A slide o'er the side, and rest at last.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Bernard F. Asuncion 25 April 2019

One of the best poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar.......

2 3 Reply

As If psh.. some people just don't get art

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Ramesh T A 25 April 2019

A Sailor's confidence on the sea is well depicted in this nice poem! This poem reminds me of the famous poem, The Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge!

1 3 Reply
Castellenas John 25 April 2019

A joyous and wonderful poem. To beloved the sea. I do understand.

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Alouwou Mandjah 25 April 2019

Then, if you love me, let me sail While a vessel dares the deep; For the ship 's my wife, and the breath of life Are the raging gales that sweep; And when I 'm done with calm and blast, A slide o'er the side, and rest at last.

0 3 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 25 April 2020

Superb presentation of the passion of a sailor loving voyages on sea with it's miraculous adventures. A great classic poem.

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Dr Antony Theodore 25 April 2020

if you love me, let me sail While a vessel dares the deep; For the ship 's my wife, and the breath of life Are the raging gales that sweep; a slide over the side and rest at last....... very fine poem. tony

1 0 Reply
Ruta Mohapatra 25 April 2020

What a nice sailor's song! To live and die in the sea! A fine poem of the day!

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Mahtab Bangalee 25 April 2020

Sea the enjoyable life for the sailors Sea the happiness giver to the sailors Sea the life giver to us all Sea the life of many thinking sources

0 2 Reply
Edward Kofi Louis 25 April 2020

Main chain! Very plain, Pain with hope; Sailor's song. Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

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Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Ohio / United States
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