Chapter XII: Noah Sends Forth the Raven and the Dove

Then Noah sent a raven forth,
Out of a window high,
To wander here and there, until
the waters should be dry.

And then again he sent a dove
That he might something learn,
But she could find no resting-place,
And did to him return.

The waters still spread o'er the earth,
And slowly did abate;
For seven days more within the ark,
He patiently did wait.

And then he sent her forth again,
And back she came at eve,
And bearing in her mouth she brought
To him an olive-leaf.

This token told him that the flood
Was drying fast away;
But Noah still within the ark
For seven days more did stay.

He now the third time sent the dove,
Nor did he send in vain,
The waters of the flood were dry;--
She ne'er returned again.

She found a resting-place on earth,
Beneath a sunny sky,
And with a gladsome, joyous heart,
She round about did fly.

Then Noah look'd forth from the ark,
And lifted up to God,
His thankfulness for keeping him,
According to His word.