And soft green wastes that gleam

But with some glorious drifting god-like ghost

Of cloud, some vaguely passionate crimson stain:

Rend the blue waves of heaven, shatter our sleep again!

THE ISLAND HAWK

(A SONG FOR THE FIRST LAUNCHING OF HIS MAJESTY'S AERIAL NAVY)

I

Chorus—

Ships have swept with my conquering name

Over the waves of war,

Swept thro' the Spaniards' thunder and flame

To the splendour of Trafalgar:

On the blistered decks of their great renown,

[Pg 21]

In the wind of my storm-beat wings,

Hawkins and Hawke went sailing down

To the harbour of deep-sea kings!

By the storm-beat wings of the hawk, the hawk,

Bent beak and pitiless breast,

They clove their way thro' the red sea-fray:

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