I. A Song Of A Boat: - There Was Once A Boat On A Billow: Lightly She Rocked To Her Port Remote, And The Foam Was White In Her Wake Like Snow, And Her Frail Mast Bowed When The Breeze Would Blow And Bent Like A Wand Of Willow. Ii. I Shaded Mine Eyes One Day When A Boat Went Curtseying Over The Billow, I Marked Her Course Till A Dancing Mote She Faded Out On The Moonlit Foam, And I Stayed Behind In The Dear Loved Home; And My Thoughts All Day Were About The Boat, And My Dreams Upon The Pillow. Iii. I Pray You Hear My Song Of A Boat, For It Is But Short: - My Boat, You Shall Find None Fairer Afloat, In River Or Port. Long I Looked Out For The Lad She Bore, On The Open Desolate Sea, And I Think He Sailed To The Heavenly Shore, For He Came Not Back To Me - Ah Me! Iv. A Song Of A Nest: - There Was Once A Nest In A Hollow: Down In The Mosses And Knot-Grass Pressed, Soft And Warm, And Full To The Brim - Vetches Leaned Over It Purple And Dim, With Buttercup Buds To Follow. V. I Pray You Hear My Song Of A Nest, For It Is Not Long: - You Shall Never Light, In A Summer Quest The Bushes Among - Shall Never Light On A Prouder Sitter, A Fairer Nestful, Nor Ever Know A Softer Sound Than Their Tender Twitter That Wind-Like Did Come And Go. Vi. I Had A Nestful Once Of My Own, Ah Happy, Happy I! Right Dearly I Loved Them: But When They Were Grown They Spread Out Their Wings To Fly - O, One After One They Flew Away Far Up To The Heavenly Blue, To The Better Country, The Upper Day, And - I Wish I Was Going Too. Vii. I Pray You, What Is The Nest To Me, My Empty Nest? And What Is The Shore Where I Stood To See My Boat Sail Down To The West? Can I Call That Home Where I Anchor Yet, Though My Good Man Has Sailed? Can I Call That Home Where My Nest Was Set, Now All Its Hope Hath Failed? Nay, But The Port Where My Sailor Went, And The Land Where My Nestlings Be: There Is The Home Where My Thoughts Are Sent, The Only Home For Me - Ah Me!