Songs of Sea and Sail

<h2>LONG, LONG AGO.</h2> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">As slow our boat the water thro'</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Is stealing on the breeze,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">The curving sky a tender blue,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">A deeper blue the seas;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">We mark whereon the western edge</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">A band of coast is seen,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Where juts the cape and slopes the ledge,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">A port is shut between.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">On either side a sudden rise</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Of black and broken rock</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Thrusts out an arm that well defies</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">The frantic ocean's shock;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And from its point the sunken reef</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Runs out a mile or more,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Where many a ship has come to grief</span><br/> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</SPAN></span></p> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">When breaking breakers roar.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Long, long ago, in sudden wrath</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">A storm burst on this land;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">It caught a fleet within its path&mdash;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">An admiral in command.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">For three black days they fought the gale,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Then one by one they wore&mdash;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And reft of spar and stripped of sail</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Went smashing on that shore.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Where red and rough the land-slip beach</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Is touched by tiny waves&mdash;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Beyond the winter breaker's reach</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">They dug their shallow graves;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">And with a prayer that half expressed</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">The sorrow that they knew,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">They laid the admiral there to rest</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Surrounded by his crew.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">But, ah, to-day is sweet&mdash;and lo,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">The ocean is at rest,</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Save for a breathing low and slow</span><br/> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</SPAN></span></p> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Of wind across its breast.</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">Far out beyond the cloudy forms</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Are anchored on the edge&mdash;</span><br/> <span style="margin-left: 2em;">It is no time to talk of storms,</span><br/> <p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</SPAN></span></p> <span style="margin-left: 3em;">Of wrecks upon the ledge.</span><br/> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />