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." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MUSIC by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET ALMSWOMEN by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE REAR-GUARD by SIEGFRIED SASSOON THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET by SAMUEL WOODWORTH ON BEING ASKED FOR A WAR POEM by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS CURIOUSLY EVANESCENT by EVA K. ANGLESBURG FRAGMENTS INTENDED FOR DEATH'S JEST-BOOK: HUMAN LIFE - ITS VALUE by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES |