Advice to youth

In sailing ships of yore, on deck,
when you glanced up toward the sky,
if the sails were full and ship close to the wind,
then she was “full and by.”

You will soon arrive at the moment
to decide future and vocation;
that point in life to chart your passage
and select a destination.

But to reach that port of call
requires that you not be afraid to ask
others to help you along when need be,
and you must, in turn, take task
to adjust behavior, raise your sights,
and good habits reinforce.
Then your ship’s wake will straighten,
as she sails close-hauled on proper course.

To reach fame and prosperity - there to windward - is not an easy goal;
you can’t merely point the sailing ship of life
and expect her way to hold.
Or you’ll soon be in irons, sails shivering in the wind,
not a pretty sight;
you must mind your helm intrepidly
to keep the ship progressing right.

To make good your life’s challenging
moral and goodly track,
you must, in careful steps of course,
boldly take each approaching tack.

On occasion you’ll reach to starboard,
sometimes wear the ship to port;
but the goal to windward can remain in sight
if you keep the tack legs short.

When stormy seas and mighty gales
threaten to destroy your ship,
you must reef your sails to continue on
or else the sails will rip.

There will be other perils, as when close to
the ruinous lee shore of vice;
Oh, claw quickly away from temptation’s shoals
or you’ll founder in a trice.

Now and then, the lookout aloft
will loudly shout a “sail ho!”
It may be another person heading for
the same port you want to go.
Yield sea room so that others can maneuver
and work goalward to the wind.
But don’t lie to, for it’s troublesome to restart
if you’re not disciplined.

The harbor we seek, of course,
is success before end of earthly life,
after the ship we sailed has weathered storms
of discouragement and strife.
We maintain our ship seaworthy
through deep faith and things we share.
The sails are trimmed by worthy deeds
we perform when we’re down here.

Life’s voyage is worth the toil
and the constant working of the ship.
Some sail closer to the wind than others,
but we all make the same trip.

Your journey will lead to fulfilment,
that goal for which all humans try.
To make your passage more satisfying,
show resolve, then sail “full and by.”