Prepared, the sailor o'er the ocean sails;
His ship is strong, and skillful are the crew;
Watchful his glance to see what wind prevails,
When to the breeze he spreads his canvass new;
With chart and compass he no danger fears
From rock, or reef, or treacherous current strong;
From clime to clime, and port to port he steers
In his stout ship borne by the waves along.
Why thoughtless then, O man, wilt thou embark
Upon Life's sea, no chart or compass thine?
There tempests oft prevail, and dangers dark
Lie hid like rocks that lurk beneath the brine;
And oft man's bark, with all its swelling pride,
Sinks in the waves, or drives o'er ocean wide.