Our brows are bound with spindrift and the weed is on our knees; br Our loins are battered 'neath us by the swinging, smoking seas. br From reef and rock and skerry -- over headland, ness, and voe -- br The Coastwise Lights of England watch the ships of England go! br br Through the endless summer evenings, on the lineless, level floors; br Through the yelling Channel tempest when the siren hoots and roars -- br By day the dipping house-flag and by night the rocket's trail -- br As the sheep that graze behind us so we know them where they hail. br br We bridge across the dark and bid the helmsman have a care, br The flash that wheeling inland wakes his sleeping wife to prayer; br From our vexed eyries, head to gale, we bind in burning chains br The lover from the sea-rim drawn -- his love in English lanes.