(To JOSEPH CONRAD.) Is. men could learn what you ships

know,

Leaning along the quay,—

Old giants crippled by the loud

Wild anger of the sea,—

Surging in awe and wonderment The souls of mon would be !

Could you but tell the stately joy Of your effectual day, When worked by anxious hearts you swung, Sounding the channel-way, Under a sun-splashedioreign head Into an unknown bay !

Oh, that some master caught the song Sung round your flashing wings, Your coppered prows, and found the full Calm sense of awful things You ships have felt who made the road For faiths and men and kings!

Heading out for the dark world ends Where fate with the human wars, Your every plank was a story brave, Song spoke from your bending spars, Your halliards rang to the morning wind, Your topmasts frighted the stars ! We've seen the summer horizon take On white ships going South Fair dreams and desires of stranded men Into its flaming mouth ; Ships drive far over the rich, bright sea, Men droop in a land of drouth.

They watch your goings and muse in awe Of all that the high ships know Of mammoth billows that rise and wreck, Of jagged rocks grinding slow, Of unknown wonders, away, beyond, Where never the landsmen go.

The salt that burns and the dreadful death, Hoarse cries from desolate throats, Ropes wrenching loud while the mountain seas Flick men from the decks like motes ; Not in green fabulous isles but here Romance's ensign floats !

Romance ? That dream's a lie ! You fought The hideous battle and chance, Heard brown men curse at the frightful things

That harass a ship's advance—

But you've been far out where the world is new You've fathomed the real Romance I You set in the frowning forest oft The germ of an opulent town ; The statesman's empire-plans have spread And he's thrown the engines down ; Now the years come sad to you dying ships

Without hope and alone.

Though you have found the ocean sweet, Though you have known him cruel, Though your lights flared like the beacon fires Your planks shall split forfuel Now you've limped up the river slows Fagged, beaten in the duel!

Brave death in a storm is not your doom;

They towed you as worn-out slaves Par from the reach of your restless wild Old enemies, the waves, For Ocean chafes at the masterful ships And black revenge he craves!

You found fresh worlds with your slim, swift prow, Learned more than the greatest shall, But a shameful track to death awaits Four-master and caraval : You rot with the black coal-barges round In a smoke-befogged canal!

Old ships! Old ships ! It's battle and bear—

(The night blots out the sky, A strong man offers his one shamed sob And a maiden her wept "Good-bye."

As they turn in the dark from the hallowed place Where the old ships come to die).

When oft in the eaverned night men muse On life's locked mystery, Search for the truth in place and power, The has-been and to-be, The answer comes in visioned death, Death and the visioned sea.

And you have strode that opal sea, Touched that enchanted sky, Fought in the night, and loved our sun And worked your part—Good-bye-

For all your knowledge rots with you

As all your sorrows die. FURNLEY MAURICE.