Outward Bound, from "Picture Poesies"
Not on view
Houghton's image of a woman standing on a windy wharf to gaze at a departing ship. The print first appeared in "A Round of Days" (1866, see 65.629.1), engraved by the Dalziel Brothers and published by Routledge. and illustrates William Allingham's poem, text that describes how a nautical life necessitates leaving loved ones behind on shore.
Outward Bound
"Clink-Clink-Clink goes our windlass;
"Ahoy!"—Haul in!"—"Let go!"
Yards braced and sails set,—
Flags uncurl and flow.
Some eyes that watch from shore are wet,
(How bright their welcome shone!)
While, bending softly to the breeze,
And rushing through the parted seas,
Our gallant ship glides on.
Though one has left a sweetheart,
And one has left a wife,
T'will never do to mope and fret,
Or curse a sailor's life.
See, far away they signal yet,—
They dwindle—fade—they're gone
For dashing outwards, bold and brave,
And springing light from wave to wave,
Our merry ship flies on.
Gay spreads the sparkling ocean;
But many a gloomy night
And stormy morrow must be met
Ere next we heave in sight.
The parting look we'll ne'er forget,
The kiss, the benison,
As round the rolling world we go.
God bless you all!—blow, breezes, blow!
Sail on, good ship, sail on!"
