Sailing Of TheGlory

Merrily shouted all the sailors     As they left the town behind;     Merrily shouted they and gladdened     At the slip-slap of the wind.     But envious were those faint home-keepers,     Faint land-lovers, as they saw     How the Glory dipped and staggered--     Envying saw     Pass the ship while all her sailors     Merrily shouted.     Far and far on eastern waters     Sailed the ship and yet sailed on,     While the townsmen, faint land-lovers,     Thought, "How long is't now she's gone?     Now, maybe, Bombay she touches,     Now strange craft about her throng";     Till she grew but half-remembered,     Gone so long:     Quite forgot how all her sailors     Merrily shouted.     Far in unfamiliar waters     Ship and shipmen harbourage found,     Where the rocks creep out like robbers     After travellers tempest-bound.     Then those faint land-lovers murmured     Doleful thanks not dead were they:--     Ah, yet envious, though the Glory     Sunken lay,     Hearing again those farewell voices     Merrily shouting.