“The Master-Watch”

Description

While men are preparing for the seal hunt, an old man reminisces in a long nostalgic monologue about the days when he used to go sealing. He dies at the end of his recital.

Supplemental text

Master-Watch, The
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

The Master Watch

As printed in Ryan & Small, Haulin' Rope & Gaff, p. 118. From the second
(1940) edition of Doyle's Old Time Songs and Poetry of Newfoundland,
with the title changed from "The Master-Watch" to "The Master Watch."

Three thousand men of the Viking breed
  Will sail for the north today;
An eager throng fills the city streets,
  And loud from the crowded quay
The answering cheer and the shrilly horn
  Proclaim where the ships delay.

(9 additional stanzas)

Notes

The author, Dan Carrol (1865-1941), was a wood carver and poet from St. John's. He seems to have published poems mostly in local newspapers and they have a collection of these at the Memorial University of Newfoundland library. - SH

References

1. Doyle2, p. 77, "The Master-Watch" (1 text)
2. Blondahl, pp. 81-82, "The Master-Watch" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Ryan/Small, p. 118, "The Master Watch" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. ST Doy77 (Partial)
5. Roud #4423
6. BI, Doy77