My Brigantine

James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851)

From “The Water Witch”

JUST in thy mould and beauteous in thy form,

Gentle in roll and buoyant on the surge,

Light as the sea-fowl rocking in the storm,

In breeze and gale thy onward course we urge,

My water-queen!

Lady of mine,

More light and swift than thou none thread the sea

With surer keel or steadier on its path,

We brave each waste of ocean-mystery

And laugh to hear the howling tempest’s wrath,

For we are thine.

My brigantine!

Trust to the mystic power that points thy way,

Trust to the eye that pierces from afar;

Trust the red meteors that around thee play,

And, fearless, trust the Sea-Green Lady’s star,

Thou bark divine!