The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #167430   Message #4159740
Posted By: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
19-Dec-22 - 06:39 PM
Thread Name: Maritime work song in general
Subject: RE: Maritime work song in general
LXIV.
When the bright morning streaked the east with red,
“All hands unmoor!” passed hoarsely through the ship;
Manned was the capstan, and the steady tread,
With the loud “Yo, heave, ho,” from many a lip
Soon brought the word “the anchor is atrip.”
The loosened sails in fluttering festoons hung,
The stripes and stars at the topgallant's tip
Their beauties to the early zephyrs flung––
“Heave in!” “Sheet home!” “Ay! ay!” now through the vessel rung….”
[Fitz Clarence: A Poem, French, 1844]
Benjamin Brown French (1800–1870)