Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BATTLE OF THE BIGHT (NAVAL ACTION IN THE BIGHT OF HELIGOLAND), by WILLIAM WATSON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: As rose the misty sun Last Line: Nor have they shamed their sire. Alternate Author Name(s): Watson, John William Subject(s): Helgoland Bight, Battle Of; Sea Battles; World War I; Naval Warfare; First World War | ||||||||
AS rose the misty sun, Our men the North Sea scanned, And each rejoicing gun Welcomed a foe at hand, And longed, from thunderous throat, To sound for all afloat The world-awakening note The world can understand. For ev'n as birds of night, Hoary and tawny owl, Do sometimes brave the light, Like bolder, nobler fowl, So did the foe that day Come venturing forth for prey, -- Yonder, in goodly array, On ocean foam to prowl. But brief and plain, 'mid men Not born to yield or flee, Our cannon spoke out then The speech that keeps us free, And battered, with hoarse boom, Four warships to their doom, While one, to a lonelier tomb, Fled blazing down the sea. Sleep on, O Drake, sleep well, In days not wholly dire! Grenville, whom nought could quell, Unquenched is still thy fire. And thou that hadst no peer, Nelson, thou need'st not fear! Thy sons and heirs are here, Nor have they shamed their sire. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...D'ANNUNZIO by ERNEST HEMINGWAY 1915: THE TRENCHES by CONRAD AIKEN TO OUR PRESIDENT by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE HORSES by KATHARINE LEE BATES CHILDREN OF THE WAR by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE U-BOAT CREWS by KATHARINE LEE BATES THE RED CROSS NURSE by KATHARINE LEE BATES WAR PROFITS by KATHARINE LEE BATES |
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