HE leads: we hear our Seaman's call In the roll of battles won; For he is Britain's Admiral Till setting of her sun. When Britain's life was in her ships, He kept the sea as his own right; And saved us from more fell eclipse Than drops on day from blackest night. Again his battle spat the flame! Again his victory flag men saw! At sound of Nelson's chieftain name, A deeper breath did Freedom draw. Each trusty captain knew his part: They served as men, not marshalled kine: The pulses they of his great heart, With heads to work his main design. Their Nelson's word, to beat the foe, And spare the fall'n, before them shone. Good was the hour of blow for blow, And clear their course while they fought on. Behold the Envied vanward sweep! -- A day in mourning weeds adored! Then Victory was wrought to weep; Then sorrow crowned with laurel soared. A breezeless flag above a shroud All Britain was when wind and wave, To make her, passing human, proud, Brought his last gift from o'er the grave! Uprose the soul of him a star On that brave day of Ocean days: It rolled the smoke from Trafalgar To darken Austerlitz ablaze. Are we the men of old, its light Will point us under every sky The path he took; and must we fight, Our Nelson be our battle-cry! He leads: we hear our Seaman's call In the roll of battles won; For he is Britain's Admiral Till setting of her sun. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO THE POOR by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD WASHING-DAY by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD LOVE IN THE WINDS by RICHARD HOVEY STANZAS OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF H-- A-- by BERNARD BARTON TO HELEN KELLER by CRAVEN LANGSTROTH BETTS THE YELLOWHAMMER by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE PRE-ADAMITE WORLD by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |