A ship with shields before the sun, <br />Six maidens round the mast, <br />A red-gold crown on every one, <br />A green gown on the last. <br /> <br />The fluttering green banners there <br />Are wrought with ladies' heads most fair, <br />And a portraiture of Guenevere <br />The middle of each sail doth bear. <br /> <br />A ship with sails before the wind, <br />And round the helm six knights, <br />Their heaumes are on, whereby, half blind, <br />They pass by many sights. <br /> <br />The tatter'd scarlet banners there <br />Right soon will leave the spear-heads bare. <br />Those six knights sorrowfully bear <br />In all their heaumes some yellow hair.<br /><br />William Morris<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/near-avalon/
