Page:Poetry, a magazine of verse, Volume 7 (October 1915-March 1916).djvu/33

Pictures :But not to take their old commands Into the wind where water foams!
 * The captains leave; to helmless hands
 * Are fallen their houses on these sands;

Their old wives wither in the rooms.

Their children pause, with vision spent—
 * Dear folk! they dabble, and put away
 * The majesties of yesterday.

No vital pulse, no strong event,
 * Sweeps in to break their life's delay;
 * The steam-boat lands, leaves them each day

Contented with their discontent.

Where is the blood that loved the sea!
 * Though old sea-commerce be no more,
 * Shall children of the sea on shore

Sink dull with careless industry?
 * Those painted ships bold purpose bore,
 * And what great glorious sails they wore—

Pictures that shame posterity!

The white church on the hill
 * Looks over the little bay—

A beautiful thing on the hill
 * When the mist is gray;