On seeing a young Sailor taken in charge for absenting himself without leave

Edith Mary David (1855–1900)

HOW sad to see a sailor boyChange pleasure's cup to sad alloy!What tempter came in golden shapeTo lure thee onward to this fate?Thou didst unlicensed seek the shore,But now thy golden dreams are o'er;Ye shrink beneath thy captor's clasp,He holds thee firm within his grasp,And doth thy dream of bliss destroy,—Ah! leaves the wrecks of vanished joy!Frail pleasure flies too soon away,Often lasting but one short day;Leaving a very painful stingWhere she did rest her fickle wing!