Page:Poems of the Great War - National Relief Fund.djvu/23

 What sons of mine have shunned thy words and races? Have I not reared for thee time and again And bid go forth to share thy fierce embraces Sea-ducks, sea-wolves, sea-rovers, and sea-men?

Names that thou knowest—great hearts that thou holdest, Rocking them, rocking them in an endless wake— Captains the world can match not with its boldest, Hawke, Howard, Grenville, Frobisher, Drake?

Nelson—the greatest of them all—the master Who swept across thee like a shooting star, And, while the Earth stood veiled before disaster, Caught Death and slew him—there—at Tra- falgar?

Mother, they knew me then as thou didst know me; Then I cried, Peace, and every flag was furled: But I am old, it seems, and they would show me   That never more my peace shall bind the world.