Classic Poem

" Go, boy, and light the torch! the night
Is damp and dark and drear;
Thy father sails from foreign lands,
His ship must soon be near."

The boy sets fire to the torch,
And hastens to the strand;
The storm-wind howls, the rain pours down,
The torch dies in his hand.

The boy flies homeward: " Mother dear!
Send me not out again!
The storm did howl, and the wind did blow,
And the torch went out in the rain."

" O sailor's blood! O sailor's blood!
No sailor's blood art thou!
What cares a brisk young sailor's blood
How wild the tempests blow?"

The boy sets fire to the torch,
He hastens to the shore;
The tempest howls, the rain pours down,
The torch goes out once more.

The boy flies home, " O mother dear,
Send me not to the strand!
There's a white woman sitting there,
And beckoning with her hand!"

" O sailor's blood! O sailor's blood!
No sailor's blood art thou!
Nought does the brave, warm sailor's blood
For mermaid care, I trow."

The boy sets fire to the torch,
And hastens to the shore,
The tempest howls, the rain pours down,
The torch dies yet once more.

The boy flies home, " O mother go
Thyself now to the shore!
I hear a voice like father's rise
Through all the ocean's roar."

The mother quickly lifts the torch,
And sets the hut on fire;
The tempest howls, the lurid flame
Shines, brighter, broader, higher.

" What hast thou done? O mother, woe!
Hear'st thou the tempest's roar!
How cold the night, how dark and wild —
And we've a home no more!"

" O sailor's blood! O sailor's blood!
No sailor's blood art thou!
Boy, when no other torch will burn,
The hut shines well, I trow."

The father safely steers his ship
Right to the blazing strand,
Weathers the ledges all, and soon
In safety reached the land.