Poems

Sealed Orders

“Oh, whither bound, my captain?
  The wind is blowing free,
And overhead the white sails spread
  As we go out to sea.”

He looked to north, he looked to south,
  Or ever a word he spake;
“With orders sealed my sails I set—
  Due east my course I take.”

“But to what port?” “Nay, nay,” he cried,
  “This only do I know,
That I must sail due eastward
  Whatever wind may blow.”

For many a day we sailéd east.
  “O captain, tell me true,
When will our good ship come to port?”
  “I cannot answer you!”

“Then, prithee, gallant captain,
  Let us but drift awhile!
The current setteth southward
  Past many a sunny isle,

Where cocoas grow, and mangoes,
  And groves of feathery palm,
And nightingales sing all night long
  To roses breathing balm.”

“Nay, tempt me not,” he answered,
  “This only do I know,
That I must sail due eastward
  Whatever winds may blow!”

Then sailed we on, and sailed we east
  Into the whirlwind’s track.
Wild was the tempest overhead,
  The sea was strewn with wrack.

“Oh, turn thee, turn thee, captain,
  Thou’rt rushing on to death!”
But back he answer shouted,
  With unabated breath:

“Turn back who will, I turn not!
  For this one thing I know,
That I must sail due eastward
  However winds may blow!”

“Oh, art thou fool or madman?
  Thy port is but a dream,
And never on the horizon’s rim
  Will its fair turrets gleam.”

Then smiled the captain wisely,
  And slowly answered he,
The while his keen glance widened
  Over the lonely sea:

“I carry sealéd orders.
  This only thing I know,
That I must sail due eastward
  Whatever winds may blow!”