Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HOBSON'S CHOICE, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HOBSON'S CHOICE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Darkness and the midnight sea
Last Line: "shall be ""hobson's choice."
Subject(s): Spanish-american War (1898)


Darkness and the midnight sea,
Blackest heart of jeopardy;
Forts that flame an angry death,
And the surer doom beneath;
Risk of life's long happiness
And the safe world's sure success;
Bellow from the mouth of hell,
Heaven -- or a Spanish cell;
This, and more -- he knew it well --
This was Hobson's choice.

Yes, and more, unstinted, more:
Honor waiting on the shore,
Honor even from the foe,
And where'er the word shall go,
And a wreath within the hand
Of his grateful fatherland;
Lauding lips and shining eyes,
Men's hurrahs that rend the skies,
Yes, the fame that never dies --
This was Hobson's choice.

Now no more that ancient phrase
Chattering down from Charles's days, --
"Hobson's choice" of "that or none";
He had two, and chose the one:
Safety, danger; deck or wave;
Life or death; the sun, the grave.
Let the phrase new meaning wear
Now, henceforth, and everywhere;
Gallant choice to do and dare
Shall be "Hobson's choice."





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