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Twenty…seven Spanish battleships； great bullies of the sea；
And the ‘Captain' there to find her day of days。
Right into them the ‘Vanguard' leads； but with a sudden tack
The Spaniards double swiftly on their trail；
Now Jervis overshoots his mark； like some too eager pack；
He will not overtake them； haste he e'er so greatly back；
But Nelson and the ‘Captain' will not fail。
Like a tigress on her quarry leaps the ‘Captain' from her place；
To lie across the fleeing squadron's way：
Heavy odds and heavy onslaught； gun to gun and face to face；
Win the ship a name of glory； win the men a death of grace；
For a little hold the Spanish fleet in play。
Ended now the 〃Captain〃's battle； stricken sore she falls aside
Holding still her foemen； beaten to the knee：
As the ‘Vanguard' drifted past her； 〃Well done； ‘Captain'；〃 Jervis cried；
Rang the cheers of men that conquered； ran the blood of men that died；
And the ship had won her immortality。
Lo！ here her progeny of steel and steam；
A funnelled monster at her mooring swings：
Still； in our hearts； we see her pennant stream；
And 〃Well done； ‘Captain'；〃 like a trumpet rings。
The Song of the Derelict
Ye have sung me your songs； ye have chanted your rimes
（I scorn your beguiling； O sea！）
Ye fondle me now； but to strike me betimes。
（A treacherous lover； the sea！）
Once I saw as I lay； half…awash in the night
A hull in the gloom a quick hail and a light
And I lurched o'er to leeward and saved her for spite
From the doom that ye meted to me。
I was sister to ‘Terrible'； seventy…four；
（Yo ho！ for the swing of the sea！）
And ye sank her in fathoms a thousand or more
（Alas！ for the might of the sea！）
Ye taunt me and sing me her fate for a sign！
What harm can ye wreak more on me or on mine？
Ho braggart！ I care not for boasting of thine
A fig for the wrath of the sea！
Some night to the lee of the land I shall steal；
（Heigh…ho to be home from the sea！）
No pilot but Death at the rudderless wheel；
（None knoweth the harbor as he！）
To lie where the slow tide creeps hither and fro
And the shifting sand laps me around； for I know
That my gallant old crew are in Port long ago
For ever at peace with the sea！
Quebec
1608…1908
Of old； like Helen； guerdon of the strong
Like Helen fair； like Helen light of word；
〃The spoils unto the conquerors belong。
Who winneth me must win me by the sword。〃
Grown old； like Helen； once the jealous prize
That strong men battled for in savage hate；
Can she look forth with unregretful eyes；
Where sleep Montcalm and Wolfe beside her gate？
Then and Now
Beneath her window in the fragrant night
I half forget how truant years have flown
Since I looked up to see her chamber…light；
Or catch； perchance； her slender shadow thrown
Upon the casement； but the nodding leaves
Sweep lazily across the unlit pane；
And to and fro beneath the shadowy eaves；
Like restless birds； the breath of coming rain
Creeps； lilac…laden； up the village street
When all is still； as if the very trees
Were listening for the coming of her feet
That come no more； yet； lest I weep； the breeze
Sings some forgotten song of those old years
Until my heart grows far too glad for tears。
Unsolved
Amid my books I lived the hurrying years；
Disdaining kinship with my fellow man；
Alike to me were human smiles and tears；
I cared not whither Earth's great life…stream ran；
Till as I knelt before my mouldered shrine；
God made me look into a woman's eyes；
And I； who thought all earthly wisdom mine；
Knew in a moment that the eternal skies
Were measured but in inches； to the quest
That lay before me in that mystic gaze。
〃Surely I have been errant： it is best
That I should tread； with men their human ways。〃
God took the teacher； ere the task was learned；
And to my lonely books again I turned。
The Hope of My Heart
〃Delicta juventutis et ignorantius ejus； quoesumus ne memineris； Domine。〃
I left； to earth； a little maiden fair；
With locks of gold； and eyes that shamed the light；
I prayed that God might have her in His care
And sight。
Earth's love was false； her voice； a siren's song；
（Sweet mother…earth was but a lying name）
The path she showed was but the path of wrong
And shame。
〃Cast her not out！〃 I cry。 God's kind words come
〃Her future is with Me； as was her past；
It shall be My good will to bring her home
At last。〃
Penance
My lover died a century ago；
Her dear heart stricken by my sland'rous breath；
Wherefore the Gods forbade that I should know
The peace of death。
Men pass my grave； and say； 〃'Twere well to sleep；
Like such an one； amid the uncaring dead！〃
How should they know the vigils that I keep；
The tears I shed？
Upon the grave； I count with lifeless breath；
Each night； each year； the flowers that bloom and die；
Deeming the leaves； that fall to dreamless death；
More blest than I。
'Twas just last year I heard two lovers pass
So near； I caught the tender words he said：
To…night the rain…drenched breezes sway the grass
Above his head。
That night full envious of his life was I；
That youth and love should stand at his behest；
To…night； I envy him； that he should lie
At utter rest。
Slumber Songs
I
Sleep； little eyes
That brim with childish tears amid thy play；
Be comforted！ No grief of night can weigh
Against the joys that throng thy coming day。
Sleep； little heart！
There is no place in Slumberland for tears：
Life soon enough will bring its chilling fears
And sorrows that will dim the after years。
Sleep； little heart！
II
Ah； little eyes
Dead blossoms of a springtime long ago；
That life's storm crushed and left to lie below
The benediction of the falling snow！
Sleep； little heart
That ceased so long ago its frantic beat！
The years that come and go with silent feet
Have naught to tell save this that rest is sweet。
Dear little heart。
The Oldest Drama
〃It fell on a day； that he went out to his father to the reapers。
And he said unto his father； My head； my head。 And he said to a lad；
Carry him to his mother。 And 。 。 。 he sat on her knees till noon；
and then died。 And she went up； and laid him on the bed。 。 。 。
And shut the door upon him and went out。〃
Immortal story that no mother's heart
Ev'n yet can read； nor feel the biting pain
That rent her soul！ Immortal not by art
Which makes a long past sorrow sting again
Like grief of yesterday： but since it said
In simplest word the truth which all may see；
Where any mother sobs above her dead
And plays anew the silent tragedy。
Recompense
I saw two sowers in Life's field at morn；
To whom came one in angel guise and said；
〃Is it for labour that a man is born？
Lo： I am Ease。 Come ye and eat my bread！〃
Then gladly one forsook his task undone
And with the Tempter went his slothful way；
The other toiled until the setting sun
With stealing shadows blurred the dusty day。
Ere ha