Launch thy bark, mariner! Christian, God speed thee!
Let loose the rudder-bands! good angels lead thee!
Set thy sails warily; tempests will come;
Steer thy course steadily! Christian, steer home!

Look to the weather-bow, breakers are round thee!
Let fall the plummet now - shallows may ground thee.
Reef in the fore-sail there! hold the helm fast!
So - let the vessel ware! there swept the blast.

What of the night, watchman? What of the night?
'Cloudy - all quiet - no land yet - all's right.'
Be wakeful, be vigilant! - danger may be
At an hour when all seemeth securest to thee.

How! gains the leak so fast? Clean out the hold-
Hoist up thy merchandise - heave out thy gold!
There - let the ingots go! - now the ship rights;
Hurrah! the harbour's near - lo, the red lights!

Slacken not sail yet at inlet or island;
Straight for the beacon steer - straight for the high land
Crowd all thy canvas on, cut through the foam -
Christian! cast anchor now - Heaven is thy home.