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Felicia Dorothea Hemans - The Distant Ship
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The sea-bird`s wing, o`er ocean`s breast
  Shoots like a glancing star,
While the red radiance of the west
  Spreads kindling fast and far;
And yet that splendour wins thee not,–
  Thy still and thoughtful eye
Dwells but on one dark distant spot
  Of all the main and sky. 

Look round thee!–o`er the slumbering deep
  A solemn glory broods;
A fire hath touch`d the beacon-steep,
  And all the golden woods;

A thousand gorgeous clouds on high
  Burn with the amber light!–
What spell, from that rich pageantry,
  Chains down thy gazing sight? 

A softening thought of human cares,
  A feeling link`d to earth!
Is not yon speck a bark, which bears
  The lov`d of many a hearth?
Oh! do not Hope, and Grief, and Fear,
  Crowd her frail world even now,
And manhood`s prayer and woman`s tear,
  Follow her venturous prow? 

Bright are the floating clouds above,
  The glittering seas below;
But we are bound by cords of love
  To kindred weal and wo. 

Therefore, amidst this wide array
  Of glorious things and fair,
My soul is on that bark`s lone way,–
  For human hearts are there.
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