To Ned

by Herman Melville

　　

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Where is the world we roved, Ned Bunn? Hollows thereof lay rich in shadeBy voyagers old inviolate thrown Ere Paul Pry cruised with Pelf and Trade.To us old lads some thoughts come homeWho roamed a world young lads no more shall roam.Nor less the satiate year impends When, wearying of routine-resorts,The pleasure-hunter shall break loose, Ned, for our Pantheistic ports:—Marquesas and glenned isles that beAuthentic Edens in a Pagan sea.The charm of scenes untried shall lure,And, Ned, a legend urge the flight—The Typee-truants under starsUnknown to Shakespere's Midsummer- Night;And man, if lost to Saturn's Age,Yet feeling life no Syrian pilgrimage.But, tell, shall he, the tourist, find Our isles the same in violet-glowEnamoring us what years and years— Ah, Ned, what years and years ago!Well, Adam advances, smart in pace,But scarce by violets that advance you trace.But we, in anchor-watches calm, The Indian Psyche's languor won,And, musing, breathed primeval balm From Edens ere yet overrun;Marvelling mild if mortal twice,Here and hereafter, touch a Paradise.CROSSING THE TROPICS From "The Saya-y-Manto."While now the Pole Star sinks from sight The Southern Cross it climbs the sky;But losing thee, my love, my light,O bride but for one bridal night, The loss no rising joys supply.Love, love, the Trade Winds urge abaft,And thee, from thee, they steadfast waft.By day the blue and silver sea And chime of waters blandly fanned—Nor these, nor Gama's stars to meMay yield delight since still for thee I long as Gama longed for land.I yearn, I yearn, reverting turn,My heart it streams in wake asternWhen, cut by slanting sleet, we swoop Where raves the world's inverted year,If roses all your porch shall loop,Not less your heart for me will droop Doubling the world's last outpost drear.O love, O love, these oceans vast:Love, love, it is as death were past!

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