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ENGLAND TO THE SEA
What sons of mine have shunned thy words and
races?
Have I not reared for thee time and again
And bid go forth to share thy fierce embraces
Sea-ducks, sea-wolves, sea-rovers, and sea-men?
Names that thou knowest—great hearts that thou
holdest,
Rocking them, rocking them in an endless
wake—
Captains the world can match not with its boldest,
Hawke, Howard, Grenville, Frobisher, Drake?
Nelson—the greatest of them all—the master
Who swept across thee like a shooting star,
And, while the Earth stood veiled before disaster,
Caught Death and slew him—there—at Tra-
falgar?
Mother, they knew me then as thou didst know
me;
Then I cried, Peace, and every flag was furled:
But I am old, it seems, and they would show me
That never more my peace shall bind the world.
Wherefore, O Sea, I, standing thus before thee,
Stretch forth my hands unto thy surge and say:
"When they come forth who seek this empire o'er
thee,
And I go forth to meet them—on that day
"God grant to us the old Armada weather,
The winds that rip, the heavens that stoop and
lour—
Not till the Sea and England sink together,
Shall they be masters! Let them boast that
hour!"
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R. E. VERNÈDE