Poem: The Meeting of the Ships

When o'er the silent seas alone, For days and nights we've cheerless gone, Oh, they who've felt it know how sweet, Some sunny morn a sail to meet.

Sparkling at once is ev'ry eye, "Ship ahoy! ship ahoy!" our joyful cry; While answering back the sounds we hear, "Ship ahoy! ship ahoy! what cheer? what cheer?"

Then sails are back'd, we nearer come, Kind words are said of friends and home; And soon, too soon, we part with pain, To sail o'er silent seas again.