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MERCHANTMEN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Long ago I stood by the sea
Last Line: The fated ship that I loved so well.
Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs.
Subject(s): Merchants; Sailing & Sailors; Ships & Shipping


LONG ago I stood by the sea,
And sent my ships away from me:

Some with pennons and streamers dight,
Gayly fluttering in the light;

Some with freight of price untold,
Paid for out of my spirit's gold.

Over the rounding waves afar,
They sailed by sun and sailed by star,—

Over the billows, feather-tipped,
Till out of my sight the last one dipped.

Then I waited and watched and prayed,
The while my absent ships delayed.

One by one, from ports afar,
They sailed by sun and sailed by star;

Till over the billows, capped with foam,
One by one my ships came home:

Some with the brilliant colors lost,
Some by adverse currents crossed;

Some with freight of wealth untold,
Worth its weight, from a mine of gold.

But ah! the ship loved best of all
Never came home to my heart at all.

And often now, as I sit by the sea,
Whereon so many bright hopes be,

I wonder and wonder what befell
The fated ship that I loved so well.





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