Down on the sunlit ebb with the wind in her sails and free
Of cable and anchor she swept rejoicing to seek the sea.

And my eyes and my heart swept out with her,
When at my elbow I felt a stir

And, glancing down, I saw a lad—
A shambling lad with shifty air,
Weak-chested, stunted, and ill-clad—
Who watched her with unseeing stare.

Dull watery grey eyes he had,
Blinking beneath the slouching cap
That hid the low-browed, close-cropped head;
And as I turned to him he said,
With hopeless hang-dog air—
Just out of gaol three days ago,
And I'll be back before I know,
For nothing else is left a chap
When once he's been inside … and so …
Then dumb he stood with sightless stare
Set on the sunlit windy sail of the far-off boat that, free
Of anchor and cable, still swept on rejoicing to seek the sea.

My heart is a sunlit windy sail:
My heart is a hopeless lad in gaol.