Save woman, there is nought so beautiful,

As a brave ship, when coming down the wind,

With all her rigging taut — her courses full —

Leaping the sea and lashing far behind

The sparkling foam! — her upper spars defined

Like the pencilling, upon the azure sky!

Now bowing down to ocean, half inclined,

To kiss the tinted wave that ripples by, —

Then proudly soaring back, to heaven’s canopy.

All feminine! — the well developed round

Of the smooth bows, as virgin’s breast rebelling

Against the silken drapery, that’s bound,

Loosely, to all conceal, yet half revealing

The soft voluptuous beauties, ever stealing

From out their sanctuary: — to the breast

Of the fair ship, gently, but proudly swelling

Above te billow’s bright and wavy crest

Reveals her rounded form by the blue wave caressed.

All feminine! — yet strong as female beauty

When loveliness on her capricious throne

Dictates to willing slaves the path of duty

And claims their feel devotion all her own.

The race horse like a meteor gliding on —

The hunter dashing wildly at the leap

The war-horse madly charging through the dun

And sulphery cloud, ’midst shot, and bayonet’s sweep —

May liken a brave ship careering o’er the deep.

This to a landsman cannot be defined —

He sees no beauty in the snow white sail

Spread like an eagle’s wing to grasp the wind! —

This then to him were but an idle tale,

But to the tar who’s weathered many a gale

And storm and squall, — who’s drank the briny foam

And tempest scud; these words mayhap won’t fail

To fix and bring the well loved image home,

In which o’er ocean’s breast he wildly used to roam.