---

Herman Melville - The Good Craft _Snow Bird_
Work rating: Low

Strenuous need that head-wind be
  From purposed voyage that drives at last
The ship, sharp-braced and dogged still,
  Beating up against the blast.

Brigs that figs for market gather,
  Homeward-bound upon the stretch,
Encounter oft this uglier weather
  Yet in end their port they fetch.

Mark yon craft from sunny Smyrna
  Glazed with ice in Boston Bay;
Out they toss the fig-drums cheerly,
  Livelier for the frosty ray.

What if sleet off-shore assailed her,
  What though ice yet plate her yards;
In wintry port not less she renders
  Summer`s gift with warm regards!

And, look, the underwriters` man,
  Timely, when the stevedore`s done,
Puts on his _specs_ to pry and scan,
And sets her down--_A, No. 1._

Bravo, master! Bravo, brig!
  For slanting snows out of the West
Never the _Snow-Bird_ cares one fig;
  And foul winds steady her, though a pest.
Source
The script ran 0.002 seconds.