Ветер в ивах
Wayfarers All
Thelittleboatsthatlietetheredtotheringsandstanchionsoftheoldsea-wallaregailypaintedasthoseIclamberedinandoutofinmyownchildhood;thesalmonleaponthefloodtide,schoolsofmackerelflashandplaypastquay-sidesandforeshores,andbythewindowsthegreatvesselsglide,nightandday,uptotheirmooringsorforthtotheopensea.There,soonerorlater,theshipsofallseafaringnationsarrive;andthere,atitsdestinedhour,theshipofmychoicewillletgoitsanchor.Ishalltakemytime,Ishalltarryandbide,tillatlasttherightonelieswaitingforme,warpedoutintomid-stream,loadedlow,herbowspritpointingdownharbour.Ishallsliponboard,byboatoralonghawser;andthenonemorningIshallwaketothesongandtrampofthesailors,theclinkofthecapstan,andtherattleoftheanchor-chaincomingmerrilyin.Weshallbreakoutthejibandtheforesail,thewhitehousesontheharboursidewillglideslowlypastusasshegatherssteering-way,andthevoyagewillhavebegun!Assheforgestowardstheheadlandshewillclotheherselfwithcanvas;andthen,onceoutside,thesoundingslapofgreatgreenseasassheheelstothewind,pointingSouth!
"Andyou,youwillcometoo,youngbrother;forthedayspass,andneverreturn,andtheSouthstillwaitsforyou.
