Page:A Treasury of South African Poetry.djvu/302

276 UNDER THE RED MAST-LIGHT.

The sun has set, the twilight glow has fled,

The stars begin to twinkle overhead,

The veil of darkness on the deep is spread.

Pacing the deck, into the night I pry,

The waves leap up and clap their hands on high,

I hear the night winds wail and sob and sigh.

What stills the heart amidst the waste, dark night?

The Captain's eye will read the course aright,

The compass gleams before the Steersman's sight.

Across the deep the destined haven lies,

Bathed in the light of sunny southern skies,

And soon will gladden our expectant eyes.

Deep unto Deep proclaims God's sovereignty,

He makes the darkness that is covering me,

And fearlessly I sail with Him the sea

That brings me to the Port where I would be.

J. P. Ritchie.