Have you heard of the wonderful fish-of-war, The marvellous submarine? It's a demon, a fighter, a conqueror, Our most malicious machine. The man-of-war is a proud affair, A creature of fire and steel, And he gives himself a terrible air As his crashing cannons peal. But down in the water still and sly Dark shadows craftily slip, And -- piff! -- the vault of the mocking sky Is filled with the shattered ship. Ah, men-of-war, did you haughtily say -- The saying born of the wish -- That war is a game for men to play? It's rather a game for fish! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN THE GOLD ROOM by OSCAR WILDE THE SECOND COMING by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS MARSH MUSIC by KENNETH SLADE ALLING ON THE FUNERAL OF CHARLES I; AT NIGHT, IN ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL, WINDSOR by WILLIAM LISLE BOWLES A BALLAD OF KINSMEN by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON TO A LADY, ON BEING ASKED MY REASON FOR QUITTING ENGLAND by GEORGE GORDON BYRON |