’Twas Off the Blue Canaries
’Twas off the blue Canary isles,
A glorious summer day,
I sat upon the quarter deck,
And whiffed my cares away;
And as the volumed smoke arose,
Like incense in the air,
I breathed a sigh to think, in sooth,
It was my last cigar.
I leaned upon the quarter rail,
And looked down in the sea;
E’en there the purple wreath of smoke,
Was curling gracefully;
Oh! what had I at such a time
To do with wasting care?
Alas! the trembling tear proclaimed
It was my last cigar.
I watched the ashes as it came
Fast drawing toward the end;
I watched it as a friend would watch
Beside a dying friend;
But still the flame swept slowly on;
It vanished into air;
I threw it from me,—spare the tale,—
It was my last cigar.
I’ve seen the land of all I love
Fade in the distance dim;
I’ve watched above the blighted heart,
Where once proud hope hath been;
But I’ve never known a sorrow
That could with that compare,
When off the blue Canaries
I smoked my last cigar.
JOSEPH WARREN FABENS.