Ocean Transportation

Great oaks from little acorns grow, Both fact and fable tell us so, And ships, once sung as "Hearts of Oak," Are born of steel and hammer-stroke.

Once by the great Euphrates stood A man who watched a log of wood, That, as it swiftly seaward sped, Put navigation in his head.

This man, U-so-us, took a tree, Stripped off its boughs and put to sea— So runs the old Phoenician tale— Soon man's invention added sail.

And having proper vessels made, Founded the art of Foreign Trade. And setting out fresh marts to seek, Found rivals in the cultured Greek.

Then, bitten by the trading germ, King Solomon took in his firm As partner, Hiram, King of Tyre— They many shekels did acquire.

Scanning the page of history through, The ancient and the modern, too, We see that foreign traders take Civilization in their wake.

A taste for cloth of cunning dye, And precious stones that please the eye, Cause merchants to increase the range Of goods to offer in exchange.

Through centuries the pride of place Has fallen to our Island race. And, do not think us overbold, But what we have, we mean to hold.