Classic Poem

9. A Calm at Sea.
Deep-sea silence! All the glitter
Of the sun lies on the water,
And the ship ploughs green-blue furrows
Through the jewelled, heaving billows.

Near the rudder lies the boatswain,
Snoring lightly on his belly.
Near the mainmast, patching sailcloth,
Cowers the cabin-boy, bewildered.

Underneath his cheeks so grimy
Red blood sparkles; apprehension
Twitches his wide mouth, and misery
From his great dark eyes looks mutely.

For the captain stands above him,
Curses, roars, and calls him rascal:
" Rascal, thou hast stolen a herring,
Stolen a herring from the barrel. "

Deep-sea silence! From the waters
Some small canny fish emerges;
Warms his noddle in the sunshine,
Wags his little tail right gaily.

But the sea-gull from mid-Heaven
Swoops down on the tiny minnow;
Swift shoots upward to the azure,
Bearing in his beak the booty.