[From Mona's Isle, 1844]

THE AUTHOR’S FAREWELL TO HIS SHIPMATES.

How fair and bright the happy scene
Of former joy appears
Upon the time-worn memory,
Amid the wreck of years,
When, in the stormy straits of life,
At intervals we cast
A ling’ring retrospective glance
On the long-cherish’d past!

Such are the feelings of this breašt
While on the past I dwell
‘With pleasing memory, and sigh,
My shipmates, fare-ye-well!
This final word will end all strife,
And seal pure friendship’s tie,
Then, shipmates all, of every grade,
I wish you well,—good bye!