THE UNKNOWN SEAS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1605, 25 August 1874, Page 333

THE UNKNOWN SEAS.

What do they bring to us, through time and tide, The ships still sailing on the unknown seas; Whose oars by mighty viewless hands are plied, Whose sails are filling by no earthly breeze? What do they bring to us? who, all unknowing, Sport by the verge, and gather rosy shells, And watch the great waves in their ebb and flowing, '. Uncaring what their solemn music tells. What do they bring to us ? Our dreams we dream, Our castles do'we build, and deck them fair, We shed around our hopes a rosy gleam, We light the onward path with all things rare; We talk of love enduring, joys attained, We rest in fearless faith, in careless case, And all the while another league is gained By the barks neariug us, o'er unknown seas. There may be sorrow in the coming ships, There may be gain uathought of, conquest great, There may bo cups of bliss for longing lips, Or strange unlooked-for blow from lurking fate ; There may be shame or glory, life or death, There may be some wild tale of sin or madness, There may be slander's nubtle Upas breath To quench the tender rays of household gladness. Who knows! who knows ! we linger on the shore, We hear the long waves in the distance breaking ; We pluck the rose, and sigh that June is o'er, We sleep sweet sleeps, and dread the certain waking. Only one thing is real ; to clasp, to hold, To make our shield in whirling thoughts like these, This one great Truth is true to mortals told, There is a Pilot on the unknown aeas.