The Lily Of St Leonards

Tis sunrise over Watson,     Where I sailed out to sea,     On that wild run to London     That wrecked and ruined me.     The beauty of the morning     On bluff and point and bay,     But the Lily of St Leonards     Was fairer than the day.     O Lily of St Leonards!     And I was mad to roam,     She died with loving words for me     Three days ere I came home.     As fair as lily whiteness,     As pure as lily gold,     And bright with childlike brightness     And wise as worlds of old.     Her heart for all was beating     And all hearts were her own,     Like sunshine through the Lily     Her purity was shown.     O Lily of St Leonards!     My night is on the track,     Tis well you never lived to see     The wreck that I came back.     A leaden sky shuts over     A sobbing leaden sea,     For the Lily of St Leonards     Is never more for me.     I seek the wharf of Outward     Where the deck no longer thrills     Where she stood with great tears starting     Like the lights on dark wet hills.     The world was all before me     The laurels on my brow,     Twas the world-star of the rovers,     Tis the Star of Exile now.