Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE TWO ANCHORS, by RICHARD HENRY STODDARD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE TWO ANCHORS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: It was a gallant sailor man
Last Line: "this great one on my right."
Subject(s): Home; Love


IT was a gallant sailor man,
Had just come from sea,
And, as I passed him in the town,
He sang "Ahoy!" to me.
I stopped, and saw I knew the man,—
Had known him from a boy;
And so I answered, sailor-like,
"Avast!" to his "Ahoy!"
I made a song for him one day,—
His ship was then in sight,—
"The little anchor on the left,
The great one on the right."

I gave his hand a hearty grip,
"So you are back again?
They say you have been pirating
Upon the Spanish Main;
Or was it some rich Indiaman
You robbed of all her pearls?
Of course you have been breaking hearts
Of poor Kanaka girls!"
"Wherever I have been," he said,
"I kept my ship in sight,—
'The little anchor on the left,
The great one on the right.'"

"I heard last night that you were in:
I walked the wharves to-day,
But saw no ship that looked like yours.
Where does the good ship lay?
I want to go on board of her."
"And so you shall," said he;
"But there are many things to do
When one comes home from sea.
You know the song you made for me?
I sing it morn and night,—
'The little anchor on the left,
The great one on the right.'"

"But how's your wife and little one?"
"Come home with me," he said.
"Go on, go on: I follow you."
I followed where he led.
He had a pleasant little house;
The door was open wide,
And at the door the dearest face,—
A dearer one inside.
He hugged his wife and child; he sang,—
His spirits were so light,—
"The little anchor on the left,
The great one on the right."

'T was supper-time, and we sat down,—
The sailor's wife and child,
And he and I: he looked at them,
And looked at me, and smiled.
"I think of this when I am tossed
Upon the stormy foam,
And, though a thousand leagues away,
Am anchored here at home."
Then, giving each a kiss, he said,
"I see, in dreams at night,
This little anchor on my left,
This great one on my right."





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