| |
| THE SHIPS are anchored in the bay, | |
| The weary ships with haven won; | |
| Encompassed by the purple waves | |
| Beneath the brilliant tropic sun! | |
| At last upon the summer sea, | 5 |
| Untossed, at rest, they quiet lie; | |
| In idle case, scarce darkened o’er | |
| By fleecy clouds in azure sky! | |
| |
| Far off upon the horizon’s verge | |
| A white-sailed sloop speeds far from sight, | 10 |
| Like some glad bird whose outspread wings | |
| Cleave straight into the realms of light! | |
| It leaves behind the fair, green isle, | |
| The waters rosy on the reef, | |
| To seek a shore, o’er ocean gray, | 15 |
| Where Winter withers bud and leaf! | |
| |
| Like those moored vessels, worn with storms, | |
| Now sheltered safe in harbor calm, | |
| We too repose through glowing days | |
| Beneath the shadow of the palm! | 20 |
| But ah! our thoughts are like the bark | |
| That sweeps across the sounding main! | |
| Love wafted from bright, softer clime | |
| To our own land of cold and rain! | |
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