whene’er i fragrant coffee drink

i on the generous frenchman think,

whose noble perseverance bore

the tree to martinico’s shore.

while yet her colony was new,

her island products but a few,

two shoots from off a coffee-tree

he carried with him o’er the sea.

each little tender coffee-slip

he waters daily in the ship;

and as he tends his embryo trees

feels he is raising ’midst the seas

coffee groves, whose ample shade

shall screen the dark creolian maid.

but soon, alas! his darling pleasure

in watching this his precious treasure,

is like to fade; for water fails

on board the ship in which he sails.

now all the reservoirs are shut,

the crew on short allowance put;

so small a drop is each man’s share

few leavings you may think there are

to water these poor coffee plants!

but he supplies their gasping wants;

ev’n from his own dry parched lips

he spares it for his coffee-slips.

water he gives his nurslings first

ere he allays his own deep thirst;

lest if he first the water sip

he bear too far his eager lip.

he sees them droop for want of more;

yet when they reach the destined shore,

with pride the heroic gardener sees

a living sap still in his trees.

the islanders his praise resound!

coffee plantations rise around;

and martinico loads her ships

with produce from those dear-saved slips.b