THE BALLAD OF THE SAILORS WIFE

The year was eighteen hundred and ten
The men of war were out at sea.
With the gallant sails tall and brave
Fighting the French to become free.

Mary had married the Masters mate.
They'd only been married a month or two
When he was called to serve on Nelsons ship
To fight the French, and the Spaniards too.

They lived in a cottage small and white
Overlooking the sea towards the French coast,
Near to the lighthouse by some tall cliffs,
The tallest in England was their boast.

She stood by the lighthouse watching them go,
Till each ship with all sails unfurled vanished
In the silver blue sea, the calmness of the ocean
Mocked her churning heart. Hope in her heart perished

Two years went by, no news was heard save battles lost or won
Then news came of peace declared, would he soon be home?
She waited every day to see the ships sail in,
Till at last she saw the flag ship in the foam.

She waited at the dock looking anxiously at every face,
Would her dear beloved be brought home safe and sound?
She saw him, then her eyes drew dim as they filled with tears,
They met at last with one embrace, her sweet lips he found.

It did not last this joyous time, the tyrant rose again.
So off to war the sailors went more determined than before.
She watch again by the lighthouse as the fleet went out to sea.
This time the sea was rough, she was calm, for a child she bore.

She had a little part of him to help her through dark days,
She walked with pride in every step, while he was at war.
He was on the flag ship with Lord Nelson, right by his side.
Horatio or Josephine, she would call the child she bore.

The babe was born, Horatio, so healthy and strong was he.
Just like his father everyone said, even his little face,
He was her pride and joy and her love more stronger grew
For the man somewhere in the flag ship in some far off place.

One day she stood by the light house, her child by her side,
She saw smoke and flashes and far off thunders noisy sound.
Others came to gaze, a big battle not far away they said,
They all watched and wondered, some stood, others sat around.

Reluctantly the night came and they could still see the flames
Far off in the deep blue sea. She left her spot reluctantly
Knowing that he was there on the flag ship so brave and true,
Fighting for freedom by Lord Nelsons side, fighting for liberty.

Victory! Victory! the town criers yelled, but Nelson is dead
They greaved. She stood on the dock in the silent rain
Waiting for him to come, the battered ship told a sorry tale
Of a great battle won, with death and heartache and pain.

One by one the men left the ship everyone one seemed scarred
Some were carried with tender care to sick or weak to walk.
She saw him, her heart gave a leap, he is alive, thank God.
She held up the child, their eyes met, he was to happy to talk.

He lived to be old, told many tales about the flag ship brave,
And how he lived while many died as many battles were won
And how they all loved Lord Nelson, the officers and the men
And how proud to have young Horatio his first and only son.

Ann Margetson
April 26 1995
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