And the storm comes thick and fast.
Can human power, in such an hour,
Avert the doom that’s o’er her?
Her mainmast’s gone, but she still drives on
To the fatal reef before.
The life-boat! Man the life-boat!
Quick! man the life-boat! hark! the gun
Booms through the vapory air;
And see! the signal flags are on,
And speak the ship’s despair.