<h2><SPAN name="The_Rime_of_the_Raftmen" id="The_Rime_of_the_Raftmen">The Rime of the Raftmen</SPAN></h2>
<p class="p2" style="text-align: center;">I</p>
<p class="p1 poem">The Delaware above
the Rift<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Each bank is fast
o'erflowing,</span><br/>
And sweeping onward dark and swift,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Wild and still wilder
growing</span><br/>
It hurls a heavy raft along<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Upon its rocking way,</span><br/>
While the Captain's call the hills prolong<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">At dawning of the day:</span><br/>
Pull, lads, pull!—to Jersey side,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 3em;">The Rift is near!</span><br/>
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</SPAN></span>
Pull, lads, pull!—for the high floods hide<br/>
The ragged rocks like an ocean tide,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And the river's rush I
hear.</span></p>
<p class="p2" style="text-align: center;">II</p>
<p class="p1 poem">
Safely the Rift is left behind,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A careful stearsman
stearing;</span><br/>
Swiftly we speed, only to find<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A dizzy eddy nearing,</span><br/>
Where rolling in the river-lake,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And whirling round and
round</span><br/>
A dozen rafts the circle make,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And warning cries resound:</span><br/>
Pull, lads, pull!—Sylvania's shore!<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 3em;">The Eddy's near!</span><br/>
Pull, lads, pull!—till the sweeping oar<br/>
Bends like a bow and you hear the roar<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Of the river in the rear.</span><br/></p>
<p class="p2" style="text-align: center;">III</p>
<p class="p1 poem">
The luring eddy lies behind<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Where the dizzy rafts are
whirling,</span><br/>
And we speed along with the cutting wind,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The foam like suds
up-curling,</span><br/>
When ahead a sharp curve comes in sight<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And we hear the Captain
call</span><br/>
As the raft swerves sudden to the right<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And the ridges tower tall:</span><br/>
Pull, lads, pull!—to Jersey side!<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 3em;">The Bend I fear!</span><br/>
Pull, lads, pull!—and soon we'll ride<br/>
On the rolling wave to Trenton's tide<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 3em;">With river calm and clear.</span><br/></p>
<p class="p2" style="text-align: center;">IV</p>
<p class="p1 poem">
The Bend is past, but the Water-gap<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of the Delaware up-rearing,</span><br/>
Looms far ahead like a narrow trap<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">As fast our raft is
nearing,</span><br/>
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</SPAN></span>
And calm and deep the waters grow,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And scarcely comes a sound</span><br/>
Till the Captain's calling, to and fro<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Re-echoes far around:</span><br/>
Rest, lads, rest!—a little while!<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Be of good cheer!</span><br/>
Rest, lads, rest! till yonder isle<br/>
We safely pass—a few more mile<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And all our course is
clear.</span><br/></p>
<p class="p2" style="text-align: center;">V</p>
<p class="p1 poem">
Along the wave we smoothly glide<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Until the island clearing,</span><br/>
When down we speed as with the tide,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Now here, now there a
veering,</span><br/>
Until a great bridge lifts its form<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Against the evening sky,</span><br/>
When like the rolling of a storm<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The crew repeats the cry:</span><br/>
Pull, lads, pull!—Sylvania's shore!<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 3em;">The Bridge is near!</span><br/>
Pull, lads, pull!—the for'ard oar,<br/>
And soon our dangerous task is o'er,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 3em;">And little need we fear.</span><br/></p>
<p class="p2" style="text-align: center;">VI</p>
<p class="p1 poem">
So on we speed; now fast, now slow;<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">By isle and rift and eddy</span><br/>
Until at length along we flow<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With movement firm and
steady;</span><br/>
And low and lower lie the hills,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And wider spreads the vale,</span><br/>
And soft the Captain's calling trills<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Upon the evening gale:</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: -1em;">Rest, lads, rest!—our work is done—</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 3em;">The danger's o'er!</span><br/>
Rest, lads, rest!—another sun<br/>
Will see a haven safely won<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 3em;">By Trenton's friendly
shore.</span><br/></p>
<p class="p3" style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</SPAN></span></p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />