Classic Poem

Here is an oaken relic from a bark,
That speaks of olden scenes and ocean mystery,—
An anchor from the Revolution ark,
Dropt to the present through the twilight dark,
Linking the troubled periods of our history.

It may be that the sapling of this wood,
Crowned on the coast with vines inviting inland,
Was swaying to the seawind's fitful mood,
Learning the rocking motion of the flood,
When roving Norsemen stood agaze at Vinland

Or, did it feel the westward-sweeping gale—
The wind that still of God and freedom hymneth—
Which landward drove the saintly hero's sail,
Until the sea-tossed pilgrims, worn and pale,
Were landed on the icy rock of Plymouth?

Where'er it grew, the woodman found the oak,
It knew the teamster and the hewer's trestle,
It felt the hammers, snuffed the pitchy smoke,
Then seaward, like a steed from stall, it broke,
While Salisbury hailed her favorite warrior vessel.

Those were the days wherein we flung defiance
Unto a tyrant monarch and his henchmen.
We asked for friendship, France gave her compliance;
And, hence, we called our vessel the Alliance,
In honor of the noble-hearted Frenchmen.

Then France was generous France: her well-earned fame
Shed round the world a lustre of pure glory.
No Italy breathed curses on her name,
No Mexico stood pointing at her shame
With feeble fingers, desperate and gory.

The royal vessel sought her future realm,—
Royal, because her parent oak was regal;
And sceptred Science shaped her prow and helm,
And crowned Courage, naught could overwhelm,
Breathed in the bosom of that fierce sea-eagle.

The ocean cormorants fled before her path;
Her wing, descried afar, was fearful omen;
Full oft her desolating vengeance hath,
In the great tempest of her iron wrath,
Sent a wild shudder through the hearts of foeman.

Hers was the enviable pride to bear
The unselfish hero's well-beloved exemplar,
A Paladin, whose heart was full of prayer
For freedom's Palestine—his soul was there.
Forever honored be the good knight-templar.

O Gratitude, forget not the ovations
Due to a noble country's nobler scion.
Let Lafayette, before the gaze of nations,
Stand canonized amidst our constellations,
Belted with starry fame, like brave Orion.

Old Europe's waters bore her graceful keel,
And heard the rolling of her threatening thunder;
She taught the insolent buccaneer to kneel
And sue for quarter,—taught their homes to feel
A mingled sense of due respect and wonder.

Though she awhile the doubtful Landais bore,
It was her glorious privilege to carry
The pennant of Paul Jones, the commodore,
The pride and terror of the sea and shore.
And his, the hardy and intrepid Barry.

And when the war was o'er, she laid aside
The latest vestige of the past commotion,
And to the winds of Commerce, far and wide,
Shook out her sails for other realms untried,
And brought home treasure from the farthest ocean.

There have been doubtful Landais' on our deck,—
The deck of State,—that wellnigh brought disaster;
But thou, obedient to a nation's beck,
Didst save the flag-ship of the world from wreck,
O noble patriot and unswerving master!

And still thou rul'st this stormy deck of State,
With all thy sea-worn councillors in communion;
Still, with thy manned and well-tried guns in wait,
Stand by thy charge, O Captain, calm and great,
Beneath the steadfast banner of the Union!

And when the Southern buccaneer at last
Shall strike her colors, saying, “It is over,”
Lash on the prize and raise her jury-mast,
Stop all her leaks, make all her rigging fast,
And bring her homeward, a repentant rover.

And when anon our battle-flag is furled,
If that no insolent gauntlet lies before us,
By dastard in the hour of danger hurled,
Then let our ship of commerce sweep the world,
Her deck made musical with Freedom's chorus.