WE sat at drinking with our merry host And saw them pass, the mighty ships of Mars, In single line, flying the Stripes and Stars, Sweeping to southward off the Gloucester coast; Our prattle ceased; an old man called a toast, "Pledge Uncle Sam, his guns, his gallant tars!" We drank and sat to silence and cigars, While our gray gentleman made bold a boast: "Earth's greatest clash of arms is yet to be, Some day the steel will ring around the world; Then these vast forts of force, with flags unfurled, Like flame-tongued demons shall patrol the sea, And all their stores of hot rage shall be hurled For honor's sake, for truth and liberty." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE FOR A SOCIAL MEETING, WITH SLIGHT ALTERATIONS BY A TEETOTALER by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES SEASONS (1) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI THE TRANCE by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE MINSTREL OF THE SUN by FREDERICK HENRY HERBERT ADLER A MAY NIGHT by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 31. AL-LATIF by EDWIN ARNOLD |