Classic Poem

When Hesper died at Bombay Hook
And in the turf was covered,
A storm, that night, the Light House shook
And o'er the wide Bay hovered.
Jonah came from the funeral
So broken-hearted, weeping,
His gloom was like his Hesper's pall,
His mind worn out and sleeping.

For Hesper daily oiled the lamp
And nightly set its motion,
And flamed it like a blazing camp
Upon the darkened ocean.
No gulls now struck the lantern high,
Though storm the waters cumbered,
For Bombay Hook forgot its eye
And, like its keeper, slumbered.

Sudden above the thunder peals
A ship's loud cannon blended;
One almost heard the cannon wheels,
So near the broadside rended;
Trumpets of men and toll of bells
Came close amid the gloaming,
And helpless on the stormy swells
To doom a ship was homing.

" God help her! Hesper's grave is theirs:
The beacon needs its keeper! "
Jonah rushed up to the tower stairs —
Too late, the tardy sleeper!

What's that? A sea bird from a star
Illumined o'er the river,
And flying straight from Heaven far,
Made all the lenses shiver;
The broken panes a hand admit —
A hand like Hesper's glazing —
And every wick with glory lit
Till Bombay Hook was blazing.

The ship veered to the helm's constraint;
Said Jonah's sacred sense:
" Hesper is not an idle saint —
Her Heaven is Diligence! "