ABOARD, at a ship's helm,
 A young steersman, steering with care.

 A bell through fog on a sea-coast dolefully ringing,
 An ocean-bell--O a warning bell, rock'd by the waves.

 O you give good notice indeed, you bell by the sea-reefs ringing,
 Ringing, ringing, to warn the ship from its wreck-place.

 For, as on the alert, O steersman, you mind the bell's admonition,
 The bows turn,--the freighted ship, tacking, speeds away under her
 gray sails,
 The beautiful and noble ship, with all her precious wealth, speeds
 away gaily and safe.

 But O the ship, the immortal ship! O ship aboard the ship! 10
 O ship of the body--ship of the soul--voyaging, voyaging, voyaging.