The Ship of Life on the Ocean of Time

[Blake Bowden]

By: Silas Shepard

The ship that sails the bounding billows
Has a captain in command
To direct her course and steer her
So that she may safely land
In the port which she is bound for,
After fight with dangerous shore;
Landing precious human cargo
Safe from ocean′s danger more.

Human life is also likened
To a ship on Time′s vast sea;
Conscience is the captain of her
To direct what life shall be.
Do not let the good ship vary
From the course which it directs;
A safe harbor will await her
If from it she ne′er deflects.

There are many charts to guide us;
There′s a light on danger′s shore:
We must keep the good ship seaward,
And avoid the siren′s lure.
We should close up all the hatches,
When there′s danger or a fire.
We should reef the sails of pleasure
In the tempest of desire.

´Tis a voyage we all must venture,
And to make it safe and sure,
Keep the captain, -Conscience, wakened;
Use a chart both true and pure.
Such a chart is Square and Compass
And the ever present "G";
It will safely guide the captain
Over many a troubled sea.