Iii

The Middle Watch

In a blue dusk the ship astern Uplifts her slender spars, With golden lights that seem to burn Among the silver stars. Like fleets along a cloudy shore The constellations creep, Like planets on the ocean floor Our silent course we keep.

And over the endless plain, Out of the night forlorn Rises a faint refrain, A song of the day to be born-- Watch, oh watch till ye find again Life and the land of morn.

From a dim West to a dark East Our lines unwavering head, As if their motion long had ceased And Time itself were dead.

Vainly we watch the deep below, Vainly the void above, They died a thousand years ago-- Life and the land we love.

But over the endless plain, Out of the night forlorn Rises a faint refrain, A song of the day to be born-- Watch, oh watch till ye find again Life and the land of morn.