The New Morning | Page 6

the fight.?O, they're dancing like witches to open the ball;?And old Cap'n Storm-along's lord of 'em all._
Now, where have you seen such a bully old sailor??His eyes are as blue as the scarf at his throat;?And he rolls on the bridge of his broad-beamed whaler,?In yellow sou'wester and oil-skin coat.?In trawler and drifter, in dinghy and dory,?Wherever he signals, they leap to his call;?They batter the seas to a lather of glory,?With old Cap'n Storm-along leading 'em all.
_You'll find he's from Devon, the sailor I mean,?Look at his whaler now, shipping it green.?O, Fritz and his "U" boat must crab it and crawl?When old Cap'n Storm-along sails to the ball._
Ay, there is the skipper that knows how to scare 'em.?_Blow the man down, bullies, blow the man down!_?Look at the sea-wives he keeps in his harem,?Wicked young merry-maids, buxom and brown:?There's _Rosalind_, the sea-witch, and _Gipsy_ so lissom,?All dancing like ducks in the teeth of the squall,?With a bright eye for Huns, and a Hotchkiss to kiss 'em;?For old Cap'n Storm-along's lord of 'em all.
_Look at him, battering darkness to light!?Look at the fleet that he leads to the fight!?O, hearts that are mighty, in ships that are small,?Your old Cap'n Storm-along's lord of us all._
THE BIG BLACK TRAWLER
The very best ship that ever I knew,?--_Ah-way O, to me O_--?Was a big black trawler with a deep-sea crew--?_Sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run._
There was one old devil with a broken nose?--_Ah-way O, to me O_--?He was four score years, as I suppose--?_But, sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run._
We was wrecked last March, in a Polar storm?--_Ah-way O, to me O_--?And we asked the old cripple if his feet was warm--?_Sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run._
And the old, old devil (he was ninety at the most)?--_Ah-way O, to me O_--?Roars, "Ay, warm as a lickle piece of toast"--?_So sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run._
"For I soaked my sea-boots and my dungarees?--_Ah-way O, to me O_--?In the good salt water that the Lord don't freeze"--?_Oh, sing, my bullies, let the bullgine run._
NAMESAKES
But where's the brown drifter that went out alone??--_Roll and go, and fare you well_--?Was her name Peggy Nutten? That name is my own.?_Fare you well, my sailor._?They sang in the dark, "Let her go! Let her go!"?And she sailed to the West, where the broad waters flow;?And the others come back, but ... the bitter winds blow.?_Ah, fare you well, my sailor._
The women, at evening, they wave and they cheer.?--_Roll and go, and fare you well_--?They're waiting to welcome their lads at the pier.?_Fare you well, my sailor._?They're all coming home in the twilight below;?But there's one little boat.... Let her go! Let her go!?She carried my heart, and a heart for the foe.?_Ah, fare you well, my sailor._
The _Nell_ and the _Maggie_, the _Ruth_ and the _Joan_,?--_Roll and go, and fare you well_--?They come to their namesakes, and leave me alone.?_Fare you well, my sailor._?And names are kep' dark, for the spies mustn't know;?But they'll look in my face, an' I think it will show;?Peggy Nutten's my name. Let her go! let her go!?_Ah, fare you well, my sailor._
WIRELESS
Now to those who search the deep,?_Gleam of Hope_ and _Kindly Light_,?Once, before you turn to sleep,?Breathe a message through the night.?Never doubt that they'll receive it.?Send it, once, and you'll believe it.
Wrecks that burn against the stars,?Decks where death is wallowing green,?Snare the breath among their spars,?Hear the flickering threads between,?Quick, through all the storms that blind them,?Quick with words that rush to find them.
Think you these a?rial wires?Whisper more than spirits may??Think you that our strong desires?Touch no distance when we pray??Think you that no wings are flying?'Twixt the living and the dying?
Inland, here, upon your knees,?You shall breathe from urgent lips,?Round the ships that guard your seas,?Fleet on fleet of angel ships;?Yea, the guarded may so bless them?That no terrors can distress them.
You shall guide the darkling prow,?Kneeling thus--and far inland--?You shall touch the storm-beat brow?Gently as a spirit-hand.?Even a blindfold prayer may speed them,?And a little child may lead them.
FISHERS OF MEN
Long, long ago He said,?He who could wake the dead,?And walk upon the sea--?"_Come, follow Me._
"Leave your brown nets and bring?Only your hearts to sing,?Only your souls to pray,?Rise, come away.
"Shake out your spirit-sails,?And brave those wilder gales,?And I will make you then?Fishers of men."
Was this, then, what He meant??Was this His high intent,?After two thousand years?Of blood and tears?
God help us, if we fight?For right, and not for might.?God help us if we seek?To shield the weak.
Then, though His heaven be far?From this blind welter of war,?He'll bless us, on the sea?From Calvary.
AN OPEN BOAT
O what is that whimpering there in the darkness??_"Let him lie in my arms. He is breathing, I know.?Look. I'll wrap all my hair round his neck."--"The