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Leaves of Grass (1871-72)
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ABOARD, AT A SHIP'S HELM.
| 1 ABOARD at a ship's helm, |
| A young steersman, steering with care. |
| 2 A bell through fog on a sea-coast dolefully ringing, |
| An ocean-bell—O a warning bell, rock'd by the waves. |
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3 O you give good notice indeed, you bell by the sea-
reefs ringing,
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| Ringing, ringing, to warn the ship from its wreck-place. |
4 For, as on the alert, O steersman, you mind the bell's
admonition,
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The bows turn,—the freighted ship, tacking, speeds
away under her gray sails,
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The beautiful and noble ship, with all her precious
wealth speeds away gayly and safe.
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5 But O the ship, the immortal ship! O ship aboard the
ship!
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O ship of the body—ship of the soul—voyaging, voyag-
ing, voyaging.
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