The Sailing of the Mayflower - A Poem Dedicated to its Epic Journey

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

• Publisher: Ragged Hand - Read & Co.
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781528717717
• eBook ISBN: 9781528790826
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Early American History
• Index: Literature

"The Sailing of the Mayflower" is an 1858 poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow dedicated to the 'Mayflower', an English ship that transported early Pilgrims to the New World in 1620. The ship has since become an important part of American history and culture, as well as the subject of innumerable works of art, plays, films, poems, songs, books, etc. A beautiful poem by one of America's most celebrated poets and not to be missed by poetry lovers with an interest in early American history. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882) was an American poet and educator. He was a member of the Fireside Poets of New England as well as the first American translator of Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy". Longfellow's lyric poems became well-known for their musicality and mythology, garnering him significant acclaim both at home and overseas. Other notable works include: "Paul Revere's Ride", "The Song of Hiawatha", and "Evangeline". Ragged Hand - Read & Co. is republishing this classic poem complete with a biography of Longfellow written by John William Cousin.

THE SAILING
OF THE MAYFLOWER

A POEM FROM
The Courtship of Miles Standish, 1858

Just in the gray of the dawn, as the mists uprose from the meadows,

There was a stir and a sound in the slumbering village of Plymouth;

Clanging and clicking of arms, and the order imperative, "Forward!"

Given in tone suppressed, a tramp of feet, and then silence.

Figures ten, in the mist, marched slowly out of the village.

Standish the stalwart it was, with eight of his valorous army,

Led by their Indian guide, by Hobomok, friend of the white men,

Northward marching to quell the sudden revolt of the savage.

Giants they seemed in the mist, or the mighty men of King David;

Giants in heart they were, who believed in God and the Bible,—

Ay, who believed in the smiting of Midianites and Philistines.

Over them gleamed far off the crimson banners of morning;

Under them loud on the sands, the serried billows, advancing,

Fired along the line, and in regular order retreated.

Many a mile had they marched, when at length the village of Plymouth

Woke from its sleep, and arose, intent on its manifold labors.

Sweet was the air and soft; and slowly the smoke from the chimneys

Rose over roofs of thatch, and pointed steadily eastward;

Men came forth from the doors, and paused and talked of the weather,

Said that the wind had changed, and was blowing fair for the Mayflower;

Talked of their Captain's departure, and all the dangers that menac...

Table of contents

• HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
• THE SAILING OF THE MAYFLOWER