A Sea Song Poem by Jean Ingelow

A Sea Song

Rating: 2.9


Old Albion sat on a crag of late,
And sung out—'Ahoy! ahoy!
Long life to the captain, good luck to the mate,
And this to my sailor boy!
Come over, come home,
Through the salt sea foam,
My sailor, my sailor boy.

'Here's a crown to be given away, I ween,
A crown for my sailor's head,
And all for the worth of a widowed queen,
And the love of the noble dead,
And the fear and fame
Of the island's name
Where my boy was born and bred.

'Content thee, content thee, let it alone,
Thou marked for a choice so rare;
Though treaties be treaties, never a throne
Was proffered for cause as fair.
Yet come to me home,
Through the salt sea foam,
For the Greek must ask elsewhere.

' 'T is pity, my sailor, but who can tell?
Many lands they look to me;
One of these might be wanting a Prince as well,
But that's as hereafter may be.
She raised her white head
And laughed; and she said
'That's as hereafter may be.'

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Me Poet Yeps Poet 19 July 2017

user rating so low yet the poem of the day wonder if compy is okay this surely must be the best poem of TO DAY

0 2 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 19 July 2017

Simply superb, the rhythm as also the theme of the poem.

0 2 Reply
Seamus O Brian 19 July 2017

The gallant rhythm belies the plaintive heart of the one who must spend her days scanning the horizon for the return of her love. A false bravado fills the sails of these stanzas with a gaiety that must be summoned from the courage of a heart that has no other choice. Winsome and charming, but touches the hollow places where fear and loneliness find their abode.

0 0 Reply
Rajnish Manga 19 July 2017

This is like the sailors' anthem for whom the other name of life is sailing on the sea. Thanks a lot.

0 3 Reply
Bernard F. Asuncion 19 July 2017

Reminds me of the song SAILING popularized by CHRISTOPHER CROSS.. Thanks for posting....👍

1 4 Reply
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Jean Ingelow

Jean Ingelow

Boston, Lincolnshire
Close
Error Success