It tells the story of a ship called the Glory leaving port with its sailors shouting happily. The people left behind are called “faint land-lovers” and “home-keepers”—they watch with envy, not just because the ship is leaving, but because the sailors seem so alive and free. As the ship travels east, the townspeople gradually forget it, only half remembering the crew’s joy. When the Glory is wrecked among dangerous rocks, the land-lovers are relieved to be alive, but the feeling is complicated: even with the ship sunken, they are still envious. In their minds they can still hear the sailors’ merry farewell shouts. The mood is wistful and ironic. A brief, joyful, daring life can seem more enviable than a safe, cautious one—even when it ends in disaster.
Sailing of the Glory — Summary
Merrily shouted all the sailors As they left the town behind; Merrily shouted they and gladdened At the slip-slap of the wind. But envious were those faint home-keepers, Faint land-lovers, as they saw How the Glory dipped and staggered-- Envying saw Pass the ship while all her sailors Merrily shouted.
Far and far on eastern waters Sailed the ship and yet sailed on, While the townsmen, faint land-lovers, Thought, "How long is't now she's gone? Now, maybe, Bombay she touches, Now strange craft about her throng"; Till she grew but half-remembered, Gone so long: Quite forgot how all her sailors Merrily shouted.
Far in unfamiliar waters Ship and shipmen harbourage found, Where the rocks creep out like robbers After travellers tempest-bound. Then those faint land-lovers murmured Doleful thanks not dead were they:-- Ah, yet envious, though the Glory Sunken lay, Hearing again those farewell voices Merrily shouting.