New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-17


In lane thai endless rules the war-shlps ngnt.
But who a aattering tide may trust,
Or fayCring breeze or aught IN END "
Careenlng under startling blasts
The sheeted towers of sails impend;
While, gathering bale, behind IL bred
liyd stOrm-bOw like rainbow dead.
At trumpet-call the topmen spring:
And, urged by after-call IN stress,
Yet other tribes of tars ascend
The riggings bowling wilderness;
But ere yard-ends alert they win, ,,.
He'll rules Ia heaven with hurricane-nre ana ON
Plumed with q smoke, a continent sea,
Heaved in cOmbing pyramid full,
Spent at IT'S climax, in collapse ,
Down headlong laundering st9ns the null
The trophy drops; but, reared again, -,
Shows Mars hgh-altar and contemns tho mains
Rebuilt it stands, the brag of arms.
Transferred in site-nO thought OF where
The sensitive needle keeps It's place.
And starts, disturbed, quiyerer there;
The helmsman rubs the clOuded glass
Peers in, but let's the trembling portent pass.
To-nights tho night that ends the week
Ends day and week aud month and year:
A four-fold imminent illckering time,
For the midnight draws anear;
Eight bells! and paSslng-bells they De
The Old Year fades, the Old Year dies ut sea-
Redeem the pledge the Old Year made,
Or prove q self-asserting heuf
But healthy hearts few quaims invade:
By ot-chests grouped IN bays tween guns
| The gossips chat. tho grizzled. sea-beat ones.
And bovish dreams some graybeards blab:
| ITO sea, my lads. we 90 no more
| Who share the Acapulco prize;
| We'll all night in, and bang the door;
| Our Ingots red shall yield us bliss,
| Lads. golden years begin tonight with thlsv'
| Released from deck yet whiting call.
Glazed caps and coats baptized IN storm.
watch OF Laced Sleeves round the board
Draw near in heart 10 keep them warm:
"Sweetbearts and wives p cink clink. they meet,
And qnafling, dip IN wine their boards of sleet.
"Ay let the starlight stay withdrawn.
So here her Eearth-lght memory hing,
SO IN this wine-light cheer be born.
And honoT's fellowship weld our ring
Homer our AdmiraPs ann fOretold;
4 tomb or a trophy audi 10. It's trophy and goldt"
But he unit, sole IN rank,
Apart needs keep his lonely state,
The seutry at his guarded door
Mute as by vaut The scuptured Fate;
Belted he sits in dr0wsy light,
And hated mods, the Admiral of the White.
He dozes aged with watches passed.
Years. years of pacing TO and froj
He doZes nor attends the stir T.
In bnlioned standards rustlng low.
Nor minds the blades whose secret thrill
Perycrts overhead the magnets Polar WILL
Less heeds the shadowing three that ply
And follow follow fast in wake,
Untiring wing and lidess eye
Abreast their course intent they take;
Or sigh or sing, they hold for good
The unvarying flight and fixed lnyeterate mood.
In dream at last his dozings merge,
In dream he reaps his Vlcory's fruit:
The Flags-o the Blue. the Flags-o-the-Red
Dipped flags OF hIS Country's fleets saiute
His Flag-o' -the-White in harbor proud
But why should il blenchf Wig turn TO painted
shrOudT
The hungry seas they hound the hull,
The sharks they dog the hsgets' fight;
With one consent the winds, tho waves
In hunt with fins and wings unite.
While drear the harps III cordage sound
Remindful walls for old Armadas drowned
Ha-ycnder are they Northern Liights7
Or signals flashed TO warn or wardf
Yes signals lanced III breakers high;
But doom warning follows hard:
While yet they veer in hope 10 shun.
They strike! and thumps OF hull and heart are
one.
Bat beating hearts n drum-beat calls
And prompt the men to quarters 90;
Discipline curbing nature, rules
Heroic makes who duty know:
They execute the trump's command.
Or IN peremptory places wait and stand.
Yet cast about in blind amaze
As through their watery shroud they peers
We tackled from land: then how betrayedf
Have currents sweryed us-snaTed us heref
None heed the blades that clash IN place
Under lamps dashed down that Int the magnets
case.
All. what may live who mighty SWIM
Or boat-crew reach that shore forbid,
Or cable spanf Must vIctors drown
Perish, even rs the vanquished didf
Man keeps from man the stified moan,
They shouldering stand, yet each IN heart how
lone.
Some heaven invoke; but rings of reefs
PRAYER and despair alike deride
In dance of breakers forked or peaked,
Pale manacs of the maddened tide;
While, strenuous yet some end to earn,
The haglets spin, tho now no more astern.
Like shuttles hurrying in the looms
Aloft thro' rigging fraxad they ply
Cross and recroSs-weave and inweaye
Then lock the web with clinching cry
Over the on seas that clasp
The weltering wreck where gurgling ends the gasp.
All, for the Plate-Fleet trophy now,
The yictors voucher, flags and arms;
Never they'll hang in Abbey old
And take Times dust with holier palms;
Nor less content III hquid night
The captor sleeps, the Admiral of the Whits.
Embedded deep with shells
And drifted treasure deep,
Forever he sinks deeper In
Unfathomable sleep
His cannon round HIM thrown.
His sailors at his feet,
The wizard sea enchanting them
Where never haglets beat
On nights when meteors play,
And light the breakers dance
The breads from the.cayes
With silyery elves advance;
And up from ocean stream,
And down from beayen far,
The rays that blend In dream
The abysm and thu star.