My Ship - A poem by Colfax Burgoyne Harman

My Ship.

On a glad bright day in life's month of May,
Hope whispered along the lea,
And I launched my ship for a treasure trip
O'er a shining southern sea,
And I wait and I wait, but my ship and its
freight
Have never come back to me.

Oh, warm was the wave, and my ship did lave
Its sides in the silvery spray.
And the wind blew fair and sweet perfumes rare
Were waft on the shores of May.
I plucked sweet flowers thru the balmy hours
And basked in the sun's warm ray.

I dreamed on the lea and I dreamed that the sea
Was bringing me home my prize,
And my life was gay and the month was May
And I watched with eager eyes;
But the vision fled. Now my hope lies dead,
As much that is holy lies.

My ship was lost. My treasure tossed
Awhile on the stormy main,
But a pirate sail soon drew'in hail
My precious freight to gain.
Hope's sun sank low^___ah well I know
It never can rise again!

That sea is life. 'Tis full of strife,
By sin and grief engrossed.
That ship^___my love^___a white-winged dove^___
I cannot count the cost.
My priceless freight^___my heart's young mate^___
The love I won and lost.

^__Colfax Burgoyne Harman

Poems Of Sentiment
Colfax Burgoyne Harman
(Valley Falls, Kansas: Harman Publishing. 1905)
Pages 36-37