The Family of the Wreck

In the pride of her form, like the Queen of the deep,
     A vessel lay moored on Brittania’s shore,
Impatiently waiting the winds that should sweep
     That bark o’er the main with the true hearts it bore.

The breezes came down from their mountain retreat,
     And were joyfully hailed by the sons of the sea
Who had spread the broad canvass their coming to greet,
     And they kissed its white folds as they rushed on in glee.

The ship walked the wave with a goddess-like motion,
     As conscious she seemed of her beauty and power,
And swiftly she chased the blue billows of ocean,
     While backward were fleeing, rock, mountain, and tower.

But ah! she was rushing right on to her doom,
     For full in her pathway did ruin await—
Nor yet on the whirlwind, in tempest and gloom,
     Rode the merciless spirit that bore them their fate.

Nor rent was their bark by the lightning on high,
     Or hurricane sweeping in wrath o’er the main,
Nor the foeman or rovers of ocean were nigh,
     But unseen was their danger till sight was in vain.

The sun had gone down to the gates of the West,
     And flung back on ocean a mantle of glory—
Save the watch, all the seamen had sunk to their rest,
     Or were lingering to list to some half-finished story.

The winds were propitious and calm was the deep,
     The ripples were gleaming like fire in the rear, 
The proud bark in majesty onward did sweep,
     Ah! little she thinks of destruction so near!

For the crashing broke suddenly forth like the thunder
     The ship on a half-hidden iceberg was rolled,
The quivering planks were all riven asunder,
     And the rushing of waters was heard in her hold.

Confusion and terror burst wild on her deck,
     The shrieking of maidens and shouts of the crew
Rose horrible over the fast-sinking wreck,
     As in transports of fear to the life-boat they flew.

One after another went down the dark side
     Of that ill-fated vessel all ready to founder
Till all has been rescued save one and his bride.
     With three trembling children fast clinging around her.

As they rushed to the life-boat a stern voice forbade them,
     But welcomed the father to join in their group,
The boat was all filed, and in naught could they aid them
     But there they must perish bereft of all hope.

Then die not alone, said the true-hearted one,
     If to live I must leave thee, together we perish—
He turned him away as the boat hurried on,
     Then embraced her whom more than his life he did cherish.

Then kneeling together they breathed forth one prayer,
     One thought they sent back to their far distant home
To friends who were never to welcome them there,
     Then waited in silence their fast-coming doom.

One plunge, and urged headlong, the foundering bark,
     Down, down, mid the caverns of ocean was borne;
A moment—the waters whirled over it dark
     Then o’er the sad scene the blue surges rolled on.