The Sailor’s Adieu Poem by Christian Milne

A TALE.

THE ship unmoor'd, the anchor weigh'd,
Full tide the vessel laves;
While busy hands the canvas spread,
To wing her on the waves:
The capstan with 'Yeo--Yea' they turn--
Tho' all seem gay, some inward mourn.
A group of female friends aside
Stand mournful on the pier,
With each a handkerchief applied,
To wipe the starting tear;
And pray that Heav'n safe home may send,
In life and health, each valued friend.
And now the vessel under way,
Tears fresh the bleeding heart;
But THOMAS , till she reach'd the bay,
From SALLY could not part:
Tho' seven long years she'd been his wife,
Still THOMAS lov'd her more than life.
Apart from others' vain alarms,
They to the beach withdrew--
There, circled in each others arms,
They sighed their fond--ADIEU.
One babe at SALLY 's bosom hung,
The rest round her and THOMAS clung.
'My dearest TOM ! and must you go!'--
The mournful SALLY cry'd;
'Was it to drink such draughts of woe
'That I became your bride!
'For some short moments spent in joy,
'What hours in tears must I employ!
'O TOM ! what shall your SALLY do,
'If ought confirm my fears?
'Ah! who will bind my aching brow,
'Or dry my bitter tears?
'Her nearest friends but distant are,
'To one who mourns her shipwreck'd tar.
'If any harm should you befal,
'On sea, or foreign shore,
'The faithful bosom of your SALL
'Will beat with life no more:
'The life that throbs in SALLY 's heart,
'Beats but for you, here or apart!'
'My dearest SALLY ,' THOMAS said--
'To win you wealth I go;
'When I am rock'd on ocean's bed,
'Indulge not fruitless woe;
'If you continue thus to mourn,
'Your heart must sink e'er I return.
'My bosom, now harrass'd as thine,
'Throbs forth its love sincere;
'Not in that hour you first were mine,
'To me you were more dear:
'Nor time nor distance e'er shall prove
'A foe to SALL in THOMAS ' love.
'Be cheer'd for these dear infants' sake,
'The pledges of our love;
'Let Hope in your sad breast awake,
'And trust in GOD above:
'The GOD that guards me on the shore,
'Can safe from sea your TOM restore.'
But now the boat approaches near,
And TOM must leave the land;
From SALLY 's cheek he wip'd the tear,
And grasp'd her chilly hand;
His ling'ring heart still wish'd to stay--
He kiss'd each babe, and--rush'd away!
He gain'd the boat; the dashing oar
Reluctantly he plies,
That bore him from his native shore,
Where SALLY constant sighs:
The vessel waits with fav'ring wind,
And TOM , at length, his shipmates join'd.
'Twas now she cast a wistful look--
Down flow'd the briny tears;
With hat in hand, the seamen took
Their leave with three loud cheers:
SALL wav'd her handkerchief in air,
To shew her TOM she still was there,
Swift out to sea the vessel flies,
And leaves the 'less'ning' shore,
And SALLY mournful homeward hies,
Her THOMAS to deplore:
She laid her little babes to sleep,
Then sat her down to think and weep.
'How chang'd this ev'ning from the last!'
The weeping mourner said--
'Last eve in converse sweet I past
'With him who now is fled!
Blest Powers! that good mens' guardians are,
Protect my TOM ! my much lov'd tar!'
Now 'storms arise, and light'nings fly,'
And bursting thunders roll;
Poor SALLY sees her THOMAS die,
In her fear-brooding soul!
Oft thinking in the roaring blast
She hears her THOMAS groan his last!
Nor when the howling storm is o'er,
Does peace to her return;
Fear tells her still he is no more--
She still persists to mourn:
'This calm,' she cry'd, no pleasure gives,
'Till I'm assur'd that THOMAS lives.'
At length she hears the post boy's horn,
With mingled hopes and fears;
Her anxious breast alternate torn--
Now smiling--now in tears:
The letter comes--she breaks the seal,
And find, with joy, that TOM is well!
A thousand times did SALLY read,
The joyful news it brought--
Then in her faithful bosom laid
The welcome, wish'd-for note;
'Lie there! to cheer my heart and home'--
Said happy SALL , 'till THOMAS come.'