Part 5 (1/2)

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 aerial 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 s.h.i.+ps that guard your seas, Fleet on fleet of angel s.h.i.+ps; 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?

G.o.d help us, if we fight For right, and not for might.

G.o.d help us if we seek To s.h.i.+eld 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 sea's rising, The boat must be lightened. He's dead. He must go.”_

See--quick--by that flash, where the bitter foam tosses, The cloud of white faces, in the black open boat, And the wild pleading woman that clasps her dead lover And wraps her loose hair round his breast and his throat.