Songs of Sea and Sail

<h2>AT PORTSMOUTH</h2> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">The great ships in the harbour</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Sit silent on the tide,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And in the sea beneath them</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Their gloomy shadows ride.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">There is no life, no beauty,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">No grace the heart can feel,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">In those irenic monsters&mdash;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Those hideous forms of steel.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">It is old England's squadron,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Her constant watch and ward&mdash;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">The bulwark of her freedom,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">The Channel's matchless guard.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">How different from the frigates</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">That bore the dauntless Blake;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">How different from the liners</span><br/> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</SPAN></span></p> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">That roared in Nelson's wake!</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Majestic then and lofty</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">They towered above the deep,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Bestowing beauty on the main</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Their forms were framed to keep.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Sail over sail they offered</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Their canvas to the wind,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">That mimicked in its whiteness</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">The wake they swept behind.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">No wonder kingly seamen</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Were bred in ships like those;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">No wonder that they made them</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">A terror to their foes.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">For in the grace and beauty</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">They shed upon the sea</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Man found the inspiration</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">That kept him brave and free.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And man and ship together</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Played well that noble part,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Until their oaken sides became</span><br/> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</SPAN></span></p> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">A symbol for his heart.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">But look! where black and formless</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Those modern monsters ride</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">A blot upon the seascape,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">A load upon the tide.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hark! from the massive flagship</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Breathes out the morning gun;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Exultant in its mission</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Her ensign meets the sun.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">From battle-ship and cruiser,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">From merchantman and fort,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">The cross of red makes glorious</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">The strong and ancient port.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Then with a heart that follows</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">I turn my eager eyes</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">To where at honored moorings</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">The grand old victor lies.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">There floats the same proud bunting</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">She swept along the breeze</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">The day that France was broken</span><br/> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</SPAN></span></p> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">And driven from the seas.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">There in prophetic splendor</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">It crowns her shapely spar,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">The promise of a future&mdash;</span><br/> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</SPAN></span></p> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">The final Trafalgar.</span><br/> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />