There's nothing like a ship at sea with all her sails full-spread
And the ocean thundering backward 'neath her mounting figurehead
And the bowsprit plunging starward and the nosing deep again.
"There's nothing like a ship at sea," sing ho, ye sailormen.
Oh, a little wayside tavern is a jolly thing to know
Where there's mugs and waiting tables and an open fire a-glow;
And it's good to have a song to sing at work as well as play;
And it's pleasant to have memories of boyhood's yesterday;
And they say a tried companion walking down an endless road
Makes the heavy footfall lighter, shares the burden of the load . . .
And I see my sweetheart walking with her head held proud and high
And I wish that I was with her where the bells ring in the sky . . .
But there's nothing like a ship at sea with her sails full-spread
And the ocean thundering backward 'neath her mounting figurehead.
Oh, it's once you be a sailor you must go to sea again.
"There's nothing like a ship at sea," sing ho, ye sailormen.
Notes
From CHANTEYS AND BALLADS, by Harry Kemp, published by Brentano's, New York, US, © 1920, pp. 18-19.
A tribute to the pull of the sea in the great age of sail.
Charley Noble
Leave a guest comment (subject to review)
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
-
Ship's Glamour?
For another haunting Harry Kemp poem try "Ship's Glamour." Be aware, however, that sometimes titles with apostrophes are elusive to find.
Cheerily,
Charley Noble -
A very well Kemp(t) poem really. Got me out of the horse latitudes I've been in for some time now!
Just wild about Harry!
John -
Harry Kemp
Old Harry, who was a deep-sea sailor in the early 1900's, would be pleased to hear all your appreciation.
Cheerily,
Charley Noble -
Sometimes you read something and it just ignites this fire in your chest.
-
great
this is fantastic tale of the sea, i loved everything about it , the adventure ,the romance it has it all. -
the very essence of the sailor is expressed in rhythmical lines descriptive words. I can see why this poem has stood the test of time.
-
Kemp has captured the romance of the sailor's life well in this little poem of his.
The Ship, The Sea, The Sweetheart, Friends and Drink. They're all here in their place and pride of place goes to the ship. As it says in the title "There's nothing like a ship at sea".
Adding your comment:
1 - 7 of 7
