The smiling light of Matinicus Rock
A jubilant sight it be
Posed in the spray of Penobscot Bay
It promenades mariners on their way
Through the jealous froth of the sea.
Whenever a seasoned Salt has sailed
Through the infinite sea's abyss
As the tempest whirled and the breakers curled
Matinicus cheated the Netherworld
With the beacon's reviving kiss
Then roll ye tides, ye tides roll on
On this fine New England morning.
And may I live till another day
New England's my home!
From coastal Maine to this craggy isle
Young Abigail Burgess came
The Keeper's child, she frolicked and smiled
And gathered her wits when the sea was wild
And her nets when the waves were tame.
Her mother an invalid, helpless and frail
Her brother a fisher by trade
Her sisters were small, and caring for all
She tended the light, commandeering the squall
From the height of the granite stockade.
Then roll ye tides, ye tides roll on
On this fine New England morning.
And may I live till another day
New England's my home!
The Keeper departed to purchase supplies
"I'll depend on you, Abbie," he cried
He leapt aboard as the billows roared
And the northeast wailed a toccata chord
In tune with the turbulent tide.
Merciless was the crescendo of surf
Flooding the weather-worn ground
Combating the gale was brave Abigail
Who tireless worked till fair weather prevailed
So only their voices were drowned.
Then roll ye tides, ye tides roll on
On this fine New England morning.
And may I live till another day
New England's my home!
A schooner whisked her father home
Across the weary brine
She murmured near the Keeper's ear
"A guiding force sustained us here:
It was God's strength, not-mine."
Mariners wafted a chantey of praise
For the maiden of dauntless cheer
The penitent calm brought a soothing balm
The lapping of waves like a rhythmic psalm
And the ocean a sonneteer.
Then roll ye tides, ye tides roll on
On this fine New England morning.
And may I live till another day
New England's my home!
The lighthouse beamed from Matinicus Rock
Echoed the mariner's peal
The message it sent to the ages meant
That a dutiful life is a monument
Much greater than granite and steel.
Then roll ye tides, ye tides roll on
On this fine New England morning.
And hoist a glass to the bonnie lass
O this fine New England day!
Lifestyle
April 26, 2007
The Ballad of Smiling Light
- Lifestyle
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- Eagle Festival swooping into Newburyport tomorrow 11Throughout the free festival — which is scheduled for tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — participants can enjoy a range of activities, all designed to help participants observe eagles in their natural habitat.
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Pan-American jazz comes to Rockport
ROCKPORT — A Grammy Award-winning musician will entertain a local audience with his blend of Pan-American jazz in a benefit event tonight that also highlights the growing revival of jazz on the North Shore.
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'The Addams Family': Quirky musical comedy comes to Boston
Where does one go as an actress after playing Cruella de Vil? If you are Sara Gettelfinger, straight to Morticia Addams.
You know, that Addams. Da-da-da. Snap. Snap. Da-da-da. Snap. Snap. Da-da-da. Da-da-da. Da-da-da. Snap. Snap. -
Short and snappy
John Bonner's film "The Impossible Journey" gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "You can't get there from here."
The short movie, which will screen at the Winter Film Festival on Thursday, Feb. 16, tells the story of an 18-mile bicycle ride that Bonner took from his home in Marblehead to Boston. -
AN ARABIC MODE
Can music solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
That possibility is being considered by a class at Salem State, which will host the SHARQ Arabic Music Ensemble on Monday, Feb. 13, for a performance and master class that are both open to the public. -
North Shore Entertainment Calendar
Good cause and fundraisers
DANCING WITH THE STAFF. Thursday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m., Swampscott High School, 200 Essex St., Swampscott. Dancing With the Staff competition will benefit the Swampscott High School Dance Team. $5/advance, $7/at the door. Open to the public. To purchase tickets, contact Coach Danielle Lannon at daniellelannon@gmail.com, or Alexa Baldacci at alexabaldacci@gmail.com. -
Pet Connection: How to prevent a lost-pet crisis
Tonka, a beloved Jack Russell terrier and member of a Salem family, disappeared on Halloween while his owners were giving out treats and getting their kids into costumes for trick-or-treating.
The devastated parents called the veterinary practice, Animal Control Officer Donald Famico and the Salem police to see if any lost animals had been turned in. Very little sleep was achieved that night. Mom and dad scoured the neighborhood looking for Tonka and contacted everyone they knew to help them find him. They had no idea if Tonka had been lost or stolen. The next morning, their young children were so enraptured with their Halloween candy they did not notice Tonka was missing, and their wise mother got them off to school calmly without distressing them with the bad news. Then she went back about her search. - The Buzz Many wish people were more like dogs It seems some people are not dreaming of getting a puppy as a Valentine's Day gift, but rather wishing their human mates were more like a dog. And their dogs are helping them look for mates! According to an American Kennel Club survey:
- Don't fret over dog park snub: Don't fret over dog park snub Q: I'm trying not to take it personally, but my feelings are hurt. This morning when I showed up at the park where neighborhood dogs and their owners gather every day, there was one woman standing there with her dog, Daisy, a West Highland terrier. Her dog ran over to my dog, greeting us warmly. Daisy's owner was not so sunny. She responded to my bright "good morning" with a question: "Where is everybody?" She made me feel invisible. I felt like saying something nasty to her. Suddenly, my dog group feels like high school. Am I not in the popular crowd?
- Dear Abby: Savings bond gift matures into mother/daughter battle Dear Abby: I'm 30 years old and have a close relationship with my mother, but something is bothering me. When I was a little girl, my grandmother gave me a U.S. savings bond for my birthday. It has matured to its full value. My mother refuses to give it to me. She said that my grandmother intended it as a wedding gift.
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