A Life on the Ocean Wave

by Epes Sargent

A life on the ocean wave,   A home on the rolling deep, Where the scattered waters rave,   And the winds their revels keep! Like an eagle caged, I pine   On this dull, unchanging shore: Oh! give me the flashing brine,   The spray and the tempest’s roar! Once more on the deck I stand   Of my own swift-gliding craft: Set sail! farewell to the land!   The gale follows fair abaft. We shoot through the sparkling foam   Like an ocean-bird set free;— Like the ocean-bird, our home   We ’ll find far out on the sea. The land is no longer in view,   The clouds have begun to frown; But with a stout vessel and crew,   We ’ll say, Let the storm come down! And the song of our hearts shall be,   While the winds and the waters rave, A home on the rolling sea!   A life on the ocean wave!