Shadows (Howe)/"When my Ship comes in"

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"WHEN MY SHIP COMES IN"
"WHEN my ship comes in," runs the young man's song, "What brave things shall I do—With the strength of my wealth and the joyous throng Of friends stout-hearted and true!"
He watches and waits 'neath storm and sun By the shore of his life's broad sea,And the days of his youth are quickly run, Yet never a sail spies he.
"My ship has gone down!" in soberer strain Sings the man, and to duty turns.He forgets the ship in his toil and pain No longer the young hope burns.
Yet again he stands by the shore, grown old With the course of his years well spent,And far, far out on the deep—behold! A dim ship landward bent.
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No banner she flies, no songs are borne From her decks as she nears the land;Silent, with sail all sombre and torn, She is safe at last by the strand.
And lo! to the man's old age she has brought Not the treasures he thought to win,But honor, content, and love—life-wrought, And he cries, "Has my ship come in!"

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