Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CHIVALRY OF THE SEA, by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES


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THE CHIVALRY OF THE SEA, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Over the warring waters, beneath the wandering skies
Last Line: The wide-warring water, under the starry skies.
Alternate Author Name(s): Bridges, Robert+(2)
Subject(s): Sea Battles; World War I; Naval Warfare; First World War


Dedicated to the memory of Charles Fisher, late student of Christ Church, Oxford


Over the warring waters, beneath the wandering skies
The heart of Britain roameth, the Chivalry of the sea,
Where Spring never bringeth a flower, nor bird singeth in a tree;
Far, afar, O beloved, beyond the sight of our eyes,
Over the warring waters, beneath the stormy skies.

Staunch and valiant-hearted, to whom our toil were play,
Ye man with amour'd patience the bulwarks night and day,
Or on your iron coursers plough shuddering through the Bay,
Or neath the deluge drive the skirmishing sharks of war:
Venturous boys who leapt on the pinnace and row'd from shore,
A mother's tear in the eye, a swift farewell to say,
And a great glory at heart that none can take away.
Seldom is your home-coming; for aye your pennon flies
In unrecorded exploits on the tumultuous wave;
Till, in the storm of batttle, fast-thundering upon the foe,
Ye add your kindred names to the heroes of long-ago,
And mid the blasting wrack, in the glad sudden death of the brave,
Ye are gone to return no more. -- Idly our tears arise;
Too proud for praise as ye lie in your unvisited grave,
The wide-warring water, under the starry skies.






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