THE ENGLISH FLAG
107
‘I draw the gliding fog-bank as a snake is drawn from the hole;
‘They bellow one to the other, the frighted ship-bells toll,
‘For day is a drifting terror till I raise the shroud with my breath,
‘And they see strange bows above them and the two go locked to death.
‘They bellow one to the other, the frighted ship-bells toll,
‘For day is a drifting terror till I raise the shroud with my breath,
‘And they see strange bows above them and the two go locked to death.
‘But whether in calm or wrack-wreath, whether by dark or day,
‘I heave them whole to the conger or rip their plates away,
‘First of the scattered legions, under a shrieking sky,
‘Dipping between the rollers, the English Flag goes by.
‘I heave them whole to the conger or rip their plates away,
‘First of the scattered legions, under a shrieking sky,
‘Dipping between the rollers, the English Flag goes by.
‘The dead dumb fog hath wrapped it—the frozen dews have kissed—
‘The naked stars have seen it, a fellow-star in the mist.
‘What is the Flag of England? Ye have but my breath to dare,
‘Ye have but my waves to conquer. Go forth, for it is there!’
‘The naked stars have seen it, a fellow-star in the mist.
‘What is the Flag of England? Ye have but my breath to dare,
‘Ye have but my waves to conquer. Go forth, for it is there!’
