The Fleet

Stand Fast! Though steel on clanging steel Make the contending turret reel; Though stern as Hell the battle-blast, From merciless horizons cast— Annihilation’s breath— Thunder no word but “Death!” Yea! though the blind sea rave And all its gulfs gape eager as the grave, Sure of your flesh at last, O human hearts! stand fast! And though untested nerve and sinew shrink, Trapped and astounded at the final brink— Tho’ hostile guns the march to silence toll, Beyond it lies the goal, And past the moment’s tremor smiles the soul. O brother hearts and brave, We know you strong to save, And strong to serve the Star That past the dusk of war Imperishable gleams, And O! how little seems The price of death men wait so glad to pay To hold undesecrated every ray! To serve thro’ many nights The youngest of the Lights Until it burns sublime From uncontested heights— The whitest beacon on the coasts of Time! Behold her, our dear country, where she stands Beneath the unconquered skies, The sword and trumpet in her sheathéd hands, But mercy in her eyes! Behold her gates That bar the loyal sea, Foaming upon her threshholds ceaselessly, Each messenger that waits Armed for conclusive fates— Angels of death made mighty to fulfil ’Mid thunderings her will! Behold all these and know her wisdom’s length, Her beauty and her strength, And know that farther skies Age-hence shall see her rise, Hesperus of the high and starry plan When nations sit unarmored at the feast, Of freedom, West and East, Leagued in the deathless faith of men with Man.