Classic Poem

He stept so lightly to the land,
All in his manly pride:
He kissed her cheek, he pressed her hand,
Yet still she glanced aside.
" Too gay he seems, " she darkly dreams,
" Too gallant and too gay
To think of me — poor simple me —
When he is far away! "

" I bring my Love this goodly pearl
Across the seas, " he said:
" A gem to deck the dearest girl
That ever sailor wed! "
She clasps it tight: her eyes are bright:
Her throbbing heart would say
" He thought of me — he thought of me —
When he was far away! "

The ship has sailed into the West:
Her ocean-bird is flown:
A dull dead pain is in her breast,
And she is weak and lone:
Yet there's a smile upon her face,
A smile that seems to say
" He'll think of me — he'll think of me —
When he is far away!

" Though waters wide between us glide,
Our lives are warm and near:
No distance parts two faithful hearts —
Two hearts that love so dear:
And I will trust my sailor-lad,
For ever and a day,
To think of me — to think of me —
When he is far away! "