THE DYKES Coming, like stallions they paw with their hooves, going they snatch with their teeth, Till the bents and the furze and the sand are dragged out, and the old-time wattles beneath! Bid men gather fuel for fire, the tar and the oil and the tow Flame we shall need, not smoke, in the dark if the riddled seabanks go. Bid the ringers watch in the tower (who knows what the dawn shall prove?) Each with his rope between his feet and the trembling bells above. Now we can only wait till the day, wait and apportion our shame. These are the dykes our fathers left, but we would not look to the same. Time and again were we warned of the dykes, time and again we delayed: Now, it may fall, we have slain our sons as our fathers we have betrayed. Walking along the wreck of the dykes, watching the work of the seas, These were the dykes our fathers made to our great profit and ease; But the peace is gone and the profit is gone, and the old sure day withdrawn That our own houses show as strange when we come back in the dawn! THE SONG OF DIEGO VALDEZ T (1902) HE God of Fair Beginnings Hath prospered here my handThe cargoes of my lading, And the keels of my command. For out of many ventures That sailed with hope as high, To me my King's much honour, To me the shouting cities, To me the mob's refrain:'Who knows not noble Valdez, Hath never heard of Spain.' But I remember comrades Old playmates on new seasWhenas we traded orpiment Among the savages THE SONG OF DIEGO VALDEZ A thousand leagues to south'ard And thirty years removedThey knew not noble Valdez, But me they knew and loved. Then they that found good liquor, They told us every one, Or secret shoals between, When, walty from far voyage, We gathered to careen. There burned our breaming-fagots Where lay our loosened harness? Oh fountain in the desert! Oh cistern in the waste! Oh bread we ate in secret! The youth new-taught of longing, Desire not more their quittance I dreamed to wait my pleasure And last in mazed disdain, I made Diego Valdez High Admiral of Spain. Then walked no wind 'neath Heaven Nor surge that did not aid I dared extreme occasion, Nor ever one betrayed. They wrought a deeper treason— (Led seas that served my needs!) They sold Diego Valdez To bondage of great deeds. The tempest flung me seaward, THE SONG OF DIEGO VALDEZ The calms embayed my quarry, Yet 'spite my tyrant triumphs But, crowned by Fleet and People, To rob me of my hope! No prayer of mine shall move him, The Lord of Sixty Pennants But not Diego Valdez, High Admiral of Spain. There walks no wind 'neath Heaven Nor wave that shall restore The old careening riot And the clamorous, crowded shore The fountain in the desert, The cistern in the waste, The bread we ate in secret, |