Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PRAYER AT SEA AFTER VICTORY, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS



Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PRAYER AT SEA AFTER VICTORY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Through evening's bright repose
Last Line: Oh! To the banner and the shrine be true!
Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea
Subject(s): Prayer; Sea Battles; Victory; Naval Warfare


THROUGH evening's bright repose
A voice of prayer arose,
When the sea-fight was done:
The sons of England knelt,
With hearts that now could melt,
For on the wave her battle had been won.

Round their tall ship, the main
Heaved with a dark red stain,
Caught not from sunset's cloud;
While with the tide swept past
Pennon and shivered mast,
Which to the Ocean-Queen that day had bowed.

But free and fair on high,
A native of the sky,
Her streamer met the breeze;
It flowed o'er fearless men.
Though, hushed and child-like then,
Before their God they gathered on the seas.

Oh! did not thoughts of home
O'er each bold spirit come,
As from the land sweet gales?
In every word of prayer
Had not some hearth a share,
Some bower, inviolate, midst England's vales?

Yes! bright, green spots that lay
In beauty far away,
Hearing no billow's roar,
Safer from touch or spoil,
For that day's fiery toil,
Rose on high hearts, that now with love gushed o'er.

A solemn scene and dread!
The victors and the dead,
The breathless burning sky!
And, passing with the race
Of waves that keep no trace,
The wild, brief signs of human victory!

A stern, yet holy scene!
Billows, where strife hath been,
Sinking to awful sleep;
And words, that breathe the sense
Of God's omnipotence,
Making a minster of that silent deep.

Borne through such hours afar,
Thy flag hath been a star,
Where eagle's wings ne'er flew:
England! the unprofaned,
Thou of the earth unstained,
Oh! to the banner and the shrine be true!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...



Home: PoetryExplorer.net