ABOARD, at a ship's helm, <br /> A young steersman, steering with care. <br /> <br /> A bell through fog on a sea-coast dolefully ringing, <br /> An ocean-bell--O a warning bell, rock'd by the waves. <br /> <br /> O you give good notice indeed, you bell by the sea-reefs ringing, <br /> Ringing, ringing, to warn the ship from its wreck-place. <br /> <br /> For, as on the alert, O steersman, you mind the bell's admonition, <br /> The bows turn,--the freighted ship, tacking, speeds away under her <br /> gray sails, <br /> The beautiful and noble ship, with all her precious wealth, speeds <br /> away gaily and safe. <br /> <br /> But O the ship, the immortal ship! O ship aboard the ship! 10 <br /> O ship of the body--ship of the soul--voyaging, voyaging, voyaging.<br /><br />Walt Whitman<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/aboard-at-a-ship-s-helm/
