Aboard At A Ship's Helm

   ABOARD, at a ship's helm,
   A young steersman, steering with care.

   A bell through fog on a sea-coast dolefully ringing,
   An ocean-bell--O a warning bell, rock'd by the waves.

   O you give good notice indeed, you bell by the sea-reefs ringing,
   Ringing, ringing, to warn the ship from its wreck-place.

   For, as on the alert, O steersman, you mind the bell's admonition,
   The bows turn,--the freighted ship, tacking, speeds away under her
         gray sails,
   The beautiful and noble ship, with all her precious wealth, speeds
         away gaily and safe.

   But O the ship, the immortal ship! O ship aboard the ship!         10
   O ship of the body--ship of the soul--voyaging, voyaging, voyaging.