He leads: we hear our Seaman's call <br />In the roll of battles won; <br />For he is Britain's Admiral <br />Till setting of her sun. <br /> <br />When Britain's life was in her ships, <br />He kept the sea as his own right; <br />And saved us from more fell eclipse <br />Than drops on day from blackest night. <br />Again his battle spat the flame! <br />Again his victory flag men saw! <br />At sound of Nelson's chieftain name, <br />A deeper breath did Freedom draw. <br /> <br />Each trusty captain knew his part: <br />They served as men, not marshalled kine: <br />The pulses they of his great heart, <br />With heads to work his main design. <br />Their Nelson's word, to beat the foe, <br />And spare the fall'n, before them shone. <br />Good was the hour of blow for blow, <br />And clear their course while they fought on. <br /> <br />Behold the Envied vanward sweep! - <br />A day in mourning weeds adored! <br />Then Victory was wrought to weep; <br />Then sorrow crowned with laurel soared. <br /> <br />A breezeless flag above a shroud <br />All Britain was when wind and wave, <br />To make her, passing human, proud, <br />Brought his last gift from o'er the grave! <br /> <br />Uprose the soul of him a star <br />On that brave day of Ocean days: <br />It rolled the smoke from Trafalger <br />To darken Austerlitz ablaze. <br />Are we the men of old, its light <br />Will point us under every sky <br />The path he took; and must we fight, <br />Our Nelson be our battle-cry! <br /> <br />He leads: we hear our Seaman's call <br />In the roll of battles won; <br />For he is Britain's Admiral <br />Till setting of her sun.<br /><br />George Meredith<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/trafalgar-day/
