Osprey & Blue Sky - SkyWatch Friday

Osprey in Flight over Colorado River
Under Beautiful Blue Sky
Bastrop, Texas

The Fisherman's Hymn.

The osprey sails above the sound,
The geese are gone, the gulls are flying;
The herring shoals swarm thick around,
The nets are launched, the boats are plying.
Yo ho, my hearts! let's seek the deep,
Raise high the song and cheerly wish her,
Still as the bending net we sweep,
'God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher!'
She brings us fish -she brings us Spring,
Good times, fair weather, warmth, and plenty;
Fine store of shad, trout, herring, ling,
Sheep-head and drum, and old wives' dainty.
Yo ho, my hearts! let's seek the deep,
Ply every oar, and cheerly wish her,
Still as the bending net we sweep,
'God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher!'
She rears her young on yonder tree,
She leaves her faithful mate to mind 'em;
Like us, for fish she sails the sea,
And, plunging, shows us where to find 'em.
Yo ho, my hearts! let's seek the deep,
Ply every oar, and cheerly wish her,
While slow the bending net we sweep,
'God bless the fish-hawk and the fisher!'

THE FISH HAWK, OR OSPREY
by Alexander Wilson (1766-1813)

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