Going down to sea in ships <br />Is a glorious thing, <br />Where up and over the rolling waves <br />The seabirds wing; <br /> <br />Oh, there's nothing more to my heart's desire <br />Than a ship that goes <br />Head-on through marching seas <br />With streaming bows: <br /> <br />Would you hear the song of the viewless winds <br />As they walk the sky? <br />Come down to sea when the storm is on <br />And the men stand by. <br /> <br />Would you see the sun as it walked abroad <br />On God's First Day? <br />Then come where dawn makes sea and sky <br />A gold causeway. <br /> <br />Oh, it's bend the sails on the black cross-yards <br />For the day dies far <br />And up a windless space of dusk <br />Climbs the evening star . . . <br /> <br />Now there's gulf on foaming gulf of stars <br />That lean so clear <br />That it seems the bastions of heaven <br />Are bright and near <br /> <br />And that, any moment, the topmost sky <br />May froth and swim <br />With an incredible bivouac <br />Of seraphim . . . <br /> <br />O wide-flung dawn, O mighty day <br />And set of sun! . . . <br />O all you climbing stars of God, <br />Oh, lead me on! <br /> <br />Oh, it's heave the anchor, walk and walk <br />The capstan 'round - <br />Far out I hear the giant sea's <br />World-murmuring sound!<br /><br />Harry Kemp<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/going-down-in-ships/
