Herman Melville

“ That's pretty good for perquisites.
I'll tell you: Cyril (some do own)
Has gained such prescience as to man
(Through seldom seeing any one) ,
To him's revealed the mortal span ⁠95
Of any wight he peers upon. ”

“ Nor grieving that each pilgrim friend
For time now leave him to unbend.
Yet, intervening even there,
A touch he knew of gliding care: ⁠180
We loiterers whom life can please
(Thought he) could we but find our mates
Ever! but no ”

“ But man--they dragged him 'board the barque;
And down he dropped there with a thump,
Being water-logged with spongy lump
Of quilted patches on the shirt
Of wool, and trowsers. All inert ⁠40
He lay. He says, and true's the word,
That bitterer than the brine he drank
Was that shrill gird the while he sank."
"A curious story, who e'er heard
Of such a fray 'twixt man and bird!"-- ⁠45
"Bird? ”