I HEARD my ancient sea-blood say, And wise in youth it counselled me, -- "When women lure, when men betray, Break topsails for the open sea." I crowded sail on spar and mast, And half the world I left behind; But in my breast I held it fast, That truth in men I still should find. I set my life on swords of three, My back against my castle wall; Now should I cry, @3"A moi, amis!"@1 It is three ghosts would come at call. Alone upon the "Far Away," And nothing human sails with me; My bare poles dip, through sun and spray, The dim marge of God's outer sea. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UPON THE IMAGE OF DEATH by ROBERT SOUTHWELL VERSES FOR CHILDREN: CHRISTMAS TREE by ZEDA K. AILES TO A CLOUD by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE PRAYER OF RUSBROCHIUS by JOHN BYROM TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 3. ON THE EVE OF DEPARTURE by EDWARD CARPENTER COULD THEY BUT KNOW (NOVEMBER, 1918) by WILL CHAMBERLAIN |