TO-DAY a rude brief recitative, <br /> Of ships sailing the Seas, each with its special flag or ship-signal; <br /> Of unnamed heroes in the ships--Of waves spreading and spreading, far <br /> as the eye can reach; <br /> Of dashing spray, and the winds piping and blowing; <br /> And out of these a chant, for the sailors of all nations, <br /> Fitful, like a surge. <br /> <br /> Of Sea-Captains young or old, and the Mates--and of all intrepid <br /> Sailors; <br /> Of the few, very choice, taciturn, whom fate can never surprise, nor <br /> death dismay, <br /> Pick'd sparingly, without noise, by thee, old Ocean--chosen by <br /> thee, 10 <br /> Thou Sea, that pickest and cullest the race, in Time, and unitest <br /> Nations! <br /> Suckled by thee, old husky Nurse--embodying thee! <br /> Indomitable, untamed as thee. <br /> <br /> (Ever the heroes, on water or on land, by ones or twos appearing, <br /> Ever the stock preserv'd, and never lost, though rare--enough for <br /> seed preserv'd.) <br /> <br /> <br /> Flaunt out O Sea, your separate flags of nations! <br /> Flaunt out, visible as ever, the various ship-signals! <br /> But do you reserve especially for yourself, and for the soul of man, <br /> one flag above all the rest, <br /> A spiritual woven Signal, for all nations, emblem of man elate above <br /> death, 20 <br /> Token of all brave captains, and all intrepid sailors and mates, <br /> And all that went down doing their duty; <br /> Reminiscent of them--twined from all intrepid captains, young or old; <br /> A pennant universal, subtly waving, all time, o'er all brave sailors, <br /> All seas, all ships.<br /><br />Walt Whitman<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/song-for-all-seas-all-ships/
