The Port-Reeve's maid has laid her down
Upon a restless pillow,
But wakeful thought is wandering
Ayont the ocean billow.
Her love's away — he's far away —
A world of waves asunder —
Around him now the storm may burst
With fearful peals of thunder!

But yet — the night wind's breath is faint,
The night-beam entereth meekly;
But when the moon's fair face is free,
Strange she should shine so weakly! —
Yet guided by her waning beam
His ship must swim securely —
Beneath so fair a sky as this
He'll strike his haven surely!

There came a knocking to the door,
That hour so lone and stilly;
And something to the maiden said —
" Arise for true love Willie! "
Another knock! another still —
Three knocks were given clearly —
Then quickly rose the Port-Reeve's maid —
Her seaman she loved dearly!

And first she saw a streak of light,
Like moonshine cold and paly;
And then she heard a well-known step —
The maiden's pulse beat gaily!
She saw a light, she heard a step,
She marked a figure slender
Across the threshold pass like thought,
And stand in her lone chamber.

It paced the chamber once and twice,
It crossed it three times slowly —
But when she to her Maker prayed,
It fled like sprite unholy.
The form the vanished shadow wore
Was of her true love Willie —
O not a breath escaped the lips
That pallid looked and chilly!

Long motionless the maiden stood,
In wonder, fear, and sorrow —
A tale of wreck, a tale of wo
Was told her on the morrow!
The ship of her returning hopes
Had sunk beneath the billow —
The ocean-shell, the ocean-weed
Were now her lover's pillow!