Silent ship

If there comes a time to raise anchor from time, one day more, A ship will set out from this harbor toward an unknown shore. It makes way silently, as though it held no living soul; At that unrocking parting no hand waves as the lines unroll. Those watching from the wharf are all aching from this journey; Their eyes sting from holding the black horizon so firmly. Wretched hearts! What last ship leaving from the homeland is this? And what deep mourning for a life spent in exile is this? The loved and the lowing will wait in vain in the world here; They do not know the belowed will never reappear. Each of the many who are going are happy they could spend A number of years here; the passengers never descend.