Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1871 to 1900 > Gaelic bards, and original poems

ALEXANDER MACDONALD.
17
Nor stir, nor move, but keep his place
With helm in hand;
And, watching the old hoary ocean,
Stern though it be,
Must loosen or draw in the sheet,
As need he’ll see,
And make her battle, run, or beat,
With full-sail’d glee.
Thus he’ll keep her stiff and stubborn,
On top of the wild wave—
Straight and sure into her harbour,
Let storms howl and rave.
THE MAN WHO WAS TO WATCH THE RIGGING ORDERED OUT.
Place this shrewd man—great-fisted—there,
To watch the rigging,
Who ’ll be sedate and full of care,
With huge grasp—strong-finger’d;
Who ’ll haul the yards with right good will,
When the ship needs it;
And watch the mast and tackling still,
And bind and loosen.
And he must know the winds that blow,
What course best suiting;
And he must work in harmony
With him who holds the sheet,
And guide the tackling manfully,
So long as his stout ropes and high
Shall hold together.
THE MAN SET ASIDE FOR THE SHEET.
Let this man with mighty shoulders,
Sit on the thwart;
Who is so sinewy and hairy,
With his bones big—