Classic Poem

The ships from young Columbia's shore,
As fleet they are, and free,
As those from haughtier realms that boast
Dominion o'er the sea.
As gallantly their banners float,
As keen their lightnings fly,
And braver hearts than there are found
Beat not beneath the sky.

White as the glancing sea-bird's wing
Their swelling sails expand,
Beside the bright Egean isles,
Or green Formosa's strand,
Or where the sparse Norwegian pine
A sudden summer shares,
Or Terra del Fuego's torch
Amid the tempest glares.

Unmoved their trackless course they hold
Though vengeful Boreas roars,
And make their port on stranger-coasts
Or undiscover'd shores.
Rude people of a foreign speech
Have learn'd their cheering cry,
“Land ho!—Aloft!”—and “Bear-a-hand!”
With the ready tar's reply.

From zone to zone—from pole to pole,
Where'er in swift career
The venturous keel a path explores,
Our Yankee sailors steer.
The white bear, on his field of ice,
Hath seen their signals toss'd;
And the great whale, old Ocean's king,
Doth know them to his cost.

The spices from the Indian isles,
The plant of China's care,
The cane's sweet blood from tropic climes
Their merchant-vessels bear.
Wherever Commerce points his wand,
They mount the crested waves,
And link together every sea
The rolling globe that laves.

Still nearest to the Antarctic gate
Our daring seamen press,
Where storm-wrapp'd Nature thought to dwell
In hermit loneliness;
“Whose masts are those, so white with frost,
Where fearful icebergs shine?”
My country from her watch-tower look'd,
And answer'd—“They are mine!”

Columbia's ships! With dauntless prow
The tossing deep they tread;
The pirates of the Libyan sands
Have felt their prowess dread:
And the British lion's lordly mane
Their victor might confess'd,
For well their nation's faith and pride
They guard on Ocean's breast.

When strong Oppression fiercely frowns,
Her eagle rears his crest,
And means no bird of air shall pluck
His pinions or his breast;
And brighter on the threatening cloud
Gleam ouTher stars of gold.
Huzza! for young Columbia's ships,
And for her seamen bold.