Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Oceanica: Vol. XXXI. 1876–79. | | | | Miscellaneous: The Ocean | | The Southern Cross | | Charles Warren Stoddard (1843–1909) |
| | | WHENE’ER those southern seas I sail, | |
| I find my eyes instinctive turning | |
| Where, pure and marvellously pale, | |
| Four sacred stars are brightly burning. | |
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| A star is set above the thorns; | 5 |
| Two mark the bleeding palms extended; | |
| And one the wounded feet adorns,— | |
| In four the potent cross is blended. | |
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| One only hand had power to place | |
| The symbol there, and that immortal; | 10 |
| Those fair, celestial fires may grace | |
| And beautify the heavenly portal. | |
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| Whatever danger I may meet | |
| Upon the wild, disastrous ocean, | |
| Still turn my trusting eyes to greet | 15 |
| That flaming cross with true devotion. | |
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| Nor cease, my willing heart, to give | |
| Thy prayers and every just endeavor; | |
| For only by the cross I live, | |
| And by the cross I live forever. | 20 | | | |
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