Page:Songs, Legends, and Ballads.djvu/78

66 "A. kneeling man on a frozen bill,
 * The sounds of life in the air—

All death and ice—and a minute before
 * The sea and the ship were there!

I could not think they were dead and gone.
 * And I listened for sound or word:

But the deep sea roar on the desolate shore
 * Was the only sound I heard.

mates, I had no heart to thank
 * The Lord for the life He gave;

I spread my arms on the ice and cried
 * Aloud on my shipmates' grave.

The brave strong lads, with their strength all vain,
 * I called them name by name;

And it seemed to me from the dying hearts
 * A message upward came—

Ay, mates, a message, up through the ice
 * From every sailor's breast:

 'Go tell our mothers and wives at home 
 * To pray for us here at rest.'