C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

The Fisherman’s Hymn

THE OSPREY sails above the Sound,

The geese are gone, the gulls are flying;

The herring-shoals swarm thick around,

The nets are launched, the boats are plying.

Yo ho, my hearts! let’s seek the deep,

Raise high the song, and cheerly wish her,

Still as the bending net we sweep,—

“God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher!”

She brings us fish—she brings us spring,

Good times, fair weather, warmth and plenty;

Fine store of shad, trout, herring, ling,

Sheep’s-head and drum, and old-wives dainty.

Yo ho, my hearts! let’s seek the deep,

Ply every oar, and cheerly wish her,

Still as the bending net we sweep,—

“God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher!”

She rears her young on yonder tree,

She leaves her faithful mate to mind ’em;

Like us, for fish she sails the sea,

And plunging, shows us where to find ’em.

Yo ho, my hearts! let’s seek the deep,

Ply every oar, and cheerly wish her,

While slow the bending net we sweep,—

“God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher!”