ABOARD at a ship’s helm, // A young steersman steering with care.

Through fog on a sea-coast dolefully ringing, // An ocean-bell-O a warning bell, rock’d by the waves.

O you give good notice indeed, you bell by the sea-reefs ringing, // Ringing, ringing, to warn the ship from its wreck-place.

For as on the alert O steersman, you mind the loud admonition, // The bows turn, the freighted ship tacking speeds away under her gray sails, // The beautiful and noble ship with all her precious wealth speeds away gayly and safe.

But O the ship, the immortal ship! O ship aboard the ship! // Ship of the body, ship of the soul, voyaging, voyaging, voyaging.