Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/Oh! Firm as Oak
Oh! Firm as Oak.
Oh! firm as oak, and free from care,
The sailor holds his heart at sea,
If she he loves his cabin share,
And Cupid page to Neptune be.
Come night's deep noon, and ne'er a moon,
Nor star aloft a watch to keep,
The tar can be gay as landsmen in day,
With a cheering glass and a smiling lass.
While boon the wind blows,
And smooth the tide flows,
And the ship steady goes,
Still steady, steady, steady,
Through the boundless deep.
The sailor holds his heart at sea,
If she he loves his cabin share,
And Cupid page to Neptune be.
Come night's deep noon, and ne'er a moon,
Nor star aloft a watch to keep,
The tar can be gay as landsmen in day,
With a cheering glass and a smiling lass.
While boon the wind blows,
And smooth the tide flows,
And the ship steady goes,
Still steady, steady, steady,
Through the boundless deep.
When wintry gales blow bleak alarms,
In turn he mounts the chilly deck;
But watch relieved, his Susan's charms
All thoughts but those of pleasure check.
Come night's deep noon, and ne'er a moon,
Nor star aloft a watch to keep,
The tar can be gay as landsmen in day,
With a cheering glass and a smiling lass.
While boon the wind blows,
And smooth the tide flows,
And the ship steady goes,
Still steady, steady, steady,
Through the boundless deep.
In turn he mounts the chilly deck;
But watch relieved, his Susan's charms
All thoughts but those of pleasure check.
Come night's deep noon, and ne'er a moon,
Nor star aloft a watch to keep,
The tar can be gay as landsmen in day,
With a cheering glass and a smiling lass.
While boon the wind blows,
And smooth the tide flows,
And the ship steady goes,
Still steady, steady, steady,
Through the boundless deep.