Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FLEET, by ALFRED TENNYSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: You, you, if you shall fail to understand Last Line: But then too late, too late. Alternate Author Name(s): Tennyson, Lord Alfred; Tennyson, 1st Baron; Tennyson Of Aldworth And Farringford, Baron Subject(s): Great Britain - Commonwealth & Colonies; Navy - Great Britain; British Empire; England - Empire; English Navy | ||||||||
I YOU, you, if you shall fail to understand What England is, and what her all-in-all, On you will come the curse of all the land, Should this old England fall Which Nelson left so great. II His isle, the mightiest Ocean-power on earth, Our own fair isle, the lord of every sea -- Her fuller franchise -- what would that be worth -- Her ancient fame of Free -- Were she ... a fallen state? III Her dauntless army scatter'd, and so small, Her island - myriads fed from alien lands -- The fleet of England is her all-in-all; Her fleet is in your hands, And in her fleet her fate. IV You, you, that have the ordering of her fleet, If you should only compass her disgrace, When all men starve, the wild mob's million feet Will kick you from your place, But then too late, too late. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE CAPTAIN; A LEGEND OF THE NAVY by ALFRED TENNYSON LORD EXMOUTH'S VICTORY AT ALGIERS, 1816 by JOHN GARDINER CALKINS BRAINARD DER TAG: NELSON AND BEATTY by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES THE LAUNCH OF A FIRST-RATE; WRITTEN ON WITNESSING THE SPECTACLE, 1840 by THOMAS CAMPBELL A BALLAD FOR A BOY by WILLIAM JOHNSON CORY ANNUS MIRABILIS: THE YEAR OF WONDERS, 1666 by JOHN DRYDEN DESCRIPTION OF A NINETY-GUN SHIP by WILLIAM FALCONER THE OLD WARSHIP ABLAZE by JAMES ELROY FLECKER A CHARACTER by ALFRED TENNYSON |
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