Nature

Land-Ho!

by George P. Morris 1802–1864

From The Poets and Poetry of America (1855)

Nature

Up, up, with the signal! The land is in sight!
We'll be happy, if never again, boys, to-night!
The cold, cheerless ocean in safety we've pass'd,
And the warm genial earth glads our vision at last.
In the land of the stranger true hearts we shall find,
To soothe us in absence of those left behind.
Land! — land-ho! All hearts glow with joy at the sight!
We'll be happy, if never again, boys, to-night!
The signal is waving! Till morn we'll remain,
Then part in the hope to meet one day again
Round the hearth-stone of home in the land of our birth,
The holiest spot on the face of the earth!
Dear country! our thoughts are as constant to thee,
A s the steel to the star, or the stream to the sea.
Ho! — land-ho! We near it — we bound at the sight!
Then be happy, if never again, boys, to-night!
The signal is answer d! The foam-sparkles rise
Like tears from the fountain of joy to the eyes!
May rain-drops that fall from the storm-clouds of care,
Melt away in the sun-beaming smiles of the fair!
One health, as chime gayly the nautical bells,
To woman — God bless her! — wherever she dwells!
The pilot's osr board! — and, thank Heaven, all's right!
So be happy, if never again, boys, to-night!

MLA

Morris, George P. “Land-Ho!” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/morris_gp/4/.

Chicago

Morris, George P. “Land-Ho!” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/morris_gp/4/.

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