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Home  »  The Book of the Sonnet  »  Robert Southey (1774–1843)

Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867.

IV. The Ship Returning

Robert Southey (1774–1843)

SHE comes majestic with her swelling sails,

The gallant ship; along her watery way

Homeward she drives before the favoring gales.

Now flirting at their length the streamers play,

And now they ripple with the ruffling breeze.

Hark to the sailors’ shouts! the rocks rebound,

Thundering in echoes to the joyful sound.

Long have they voyaged o’er the distant seas;

And what a heart-delight they feel at last,

So many toils, so many dangers past,

To view the port desired, he only knows

Who on the stormy deep for many a day

Hath tost, aweary of his watery way,

And watched, all anxious, every wind that blows!