100

[1]

THE ROWERS

1902

(When Germany proposed that England should help her in a naval demonstration to collect debts from Venezuela.)

The banked oars fell an hundred strong,

And backed and threshed and ground,

But bitter was the rowers' song

As they brought the war-boat round.

They had no heart for the rally and roar

That makes the whale-bath smoke—

When the great blades cleave and hold and leave

As one on the racing stroke.

They sang:—'What reckoning do you keep,

And steer her by what star,

If we come unscathed from the Southern deep

[2]

To be wrecked on a Baltic bar?

'Last night you swore our voyage was done,

But seaward still we go,

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