The New Morning Part 5

The _Nell_ and the _Maggie_, the _Ruth_ and the _Joan_, --_Roll and go, and fare you well_-- They come to their namesakes, and leave me alone.

_Fare you well, my sailor._ And names are kep' dark, for the spies mustn't know; But they'll look in my face, an' I think it will show; Peggy Nutten's my name. Let her go! let her go!

_Ah, fare you well, my sailor._

WIRELESS

Now to those who search the deep, _Gleam of Hope_ and _Kindly Light_, Once, before you turn to sleep, Breathe a message through the night.

Never doubt that they'll receive it.

Send it, once, and you'll believe it.

Wrecks that burn against the stars, Decks where death is wallowing green, Snare the breath among their spars, Hear the flickering threads between, Quick, through all the storms that blind them, Quick with words that rush to find them.

Think you these aerial wires Whisper more than spirits may?

Think you that our strong desires Touch no distance when we pray?

Think you that no wings are flying 'Twixt the living and the dying?

Inland, here, upon your knees, You shall breathe from urgent lips, Round the s.h.i.+ps that guard your seas, Fleet on fleet of angel s.h.i.+ps; Yea, the guarded may so bless them That no terrors can distress them.

You shall guide the darkling prow, Kneeling thus--and far inland-- You shall touch the storm-beat brow Gently as a spirit-hand.

Even a blindfold prayer may speed them, And a little child may lead them.

FISHERS OF MEN

Long, long ago He said, He who could wake the dead, And walk upon the sea-- "_Come, follow Me._

"Leave your brown nets and bring Only your hearts to sing, Only your souls to pray, Rise, come away.

"Shake out your spirit-sails, And brave those wilder gales, And I will make you then Fishers of men."

Was this, then, what He meant?

Was this His high intent, After two thousand years Of blood and tears?

G.o.d help us, if we fight For right, and not for might.

G.o.d help us if we seek To s.h.i.+eld the weak.

Then, though His heaven be far From this blind welter of war, He'll bless us, on the sea From Calvary.

AN OPEN BOAT

O what is that whimpering there in the darkness?

_"Let him lie in my arms. He is breathing, I know.

Look. I'll wrap all my hair round his neck."--"The sea's rising, The boat must be lightened. He's dead. He must go."_

See--quick--by that flash, where the bitter foam tosses, The cloud of white faces, in the black open boat, And the wild pleading woman that clasps her dead lover And wraps her loose hair round his breast and his throat.

_"Come, lady, he's dead." "No, I feel his heart beating.

He's living, I know. But he's numbed with the cold.

See, I'm wrapping my hair all around him to warm him"---- --"No. We can't keep the dead, dear. Come, loosen your hold._

_"Come. Loosen your fingers."--"O G.o.d, let me keep him!"_ O, hide it, black night! Let the winds have their way!

For there are no voices or ghosts from that darkness, To fret the bare seas at the breaking of day.

PEACE IN A PALACE

"You were weeping in the night," said the Emperor, "Weeping in your sleep, I am told."

"It was nothing but a dream," said the Empress; But her face grew gray and old.

"You thought you saw our German G.o.d defeated?"

"Oh, no!" she said. "I saw no lightnings fall.

I dreamed of a whirlpool of green water, Where something had gone down. That was all.

_"All but the whimper of the sea gulls flying, Endlessly round and round, Waiting for the faces, the faces from the darkness, The dreadful rising faces of the drowned._

"It was nothing but a dream," said the Empress.

"I thought I was walking on the sea; And the foam rushed up in a wild smother, And a crowd of little faces looked at me.

They were drowning! They were drowning," said the Empress, "And they stretched their feeble arms to the sky; But the worst was--they mistook me for their mother, And cried as my children used to cry.

_"Nothing but a whimper of the sea-gulls flying, Endlessly round and round, With the cruel yellow beaks that were waiting for the faces, The little floating faces of the drowned."_

"It was nothing but a dream," said the Emperor, "So why should you weep, dear, eh?"-- "Oh, I saw the red letters on a life belt That the green sea washed my way!"-- "What were they?" said the Emperor. "What were they?"-- "Some of them were hidden," said the Empress, "But I plainly saw the L and the U!"

"In G.o.d's name, stop!" said the Emperor.

"You told me that it was not true!

_"Told me that you dreamed of the sea gulls flying, Endlessly round and round, Waiting for the faces, and the eyes in the faces, The eyes of the children that we drowned._

"Kiss me and forget it," said the Emperor, "Dry your tears on the ta.s.sel of my sword.

I am going to offer peace to my people, And abdicate, perhaps, as overlord.

I shall now take up My Cross as Count of Prussia-- Which is not a heavy burden, you'll agree.

Why, before the twenty million dead are rotten There'll be yachting days again for you and me.

Cheer up!

It would mean a rope for anyone but Me."

_"Oh, take care!" said the Empress. "They are flying, Endlessly round and round.