At midnight's dark and dreary hour,
Deserted e'en by Cynthia's beam,
When tempests beat, and torrents pour.
And twinkling stars no longer gleam,
The weary seaman, spent with toil,
Hangs on upon the weather shrouds,
And Time's slow progress to beguile.
Sings, as he views the gathering clouds,
"Starboard watch! ahoy!"
But who can speak the joy he feels,
While o'er the foam his vessel reels,
As his tired eyelids slumbering fall.
He rouses at the welcome call
Of "Starboard watch, ahoy!"
II.