This section is from the book "Lessons In English", by Chestine Gowdy, Lora M. Dexheimer. Also available from Amazon: Lessons in English.
At Sea
A wet sheet and a flowing sea,
A wind that follows fast And fills the white and rustling sail
And bends the gallant mast; And bends the gallant mast, my boys, . While like the eagle free Away the good ship flies, and leaves
Old England on the lee.
Oh, for a soft and gentle wind!
I heard a fair one cry; But give to me the snoring breeze
And white waves heaving high; And white waves heaving high, my lads,
The good ship tight and free: - The world of waters is our home,
And merry men are we.
There's tempest in yon horned moon,
And lightning in yon cloud; But hark the music, mariners!
The wind is piping loud; The wind is piping loud, my boys,
The lightning flashes free, - While the hollow oak our palace is,
Our heritage the sea.
- Allan Cunningham.
Sheet, a rope to tie the sail fast; mariners, sailors.
Who is speaking in this poem? From what country does he sail? What kind of voyage does he want?
What different opinion is expressed in the first part of the second stanza? How does the sailor feel about that?
What signs of storm does he see?
Does the sailor love the sea? Why? Should you love it? Why?
Have you a picture of the sea in your mind? Read the words that help give you the picture. Explain them.
Explain those words that help you to see the ship.
Write what these mean: gallant mast; snoring breeze; on the lee; world of waters.
 
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