Lady Franklin’s Lament

'Twas homeward-bound one night on the deep
Slung in my hammock fast asleep
I had a dream, which I thought was true
Concerning Franklin and his bold crew

'Twas as we neared the English shore
I heard a lady sadly deplore
She wept aloud and seemed to say
"Alas, my husband is so long away"

"'Twas seven years since that ship of fame
First bore my husband to cross the main
With hearts undaunted and courage stout
To seek our Nor'west passage out"

"To seek a passenger around the Pole
With one hundred seamen brave and bold
With hearts undaunted and courage truе
'Tis what no man on earth can do"

"There's Captain Osbornе of Scarborough Town
Brave Parry and Winslow of high renown
There's Captain Ross and many more
In vain they cruised 'round the arctic shore"

"They sailéd east and they sailéd west
Off Greenland's coast, where they thought the best
Mid hardships and dangers they vainly strove
On mountains of ice, their ships were hove"

"In Baffin's Bay where the whalefish blows
Is the fate of Franklin no one knows
Ten thousand pounds I would freely give
To learn that my husband still did live"

"And to bring him back to the land of life
Where once again I could be his wife
I'd give all the wealth that I shall have
But I think alas he has found a grave"

"A voice within that I can't control
Is assurance to me of his peace of soul
Oh, arctic seas, what you have sealed
At Judgement Day shall be revealed"