THE great ship lantern-girdled. br The tender standing by; br The waning stars cloud-shrouded, br The land that we descry! br br That pale land is our homeland, br And we are bound therefor; br On her lawns nor in her coppice br No birds as yet make stir. br br But birds are br flying round us, br The white birds of the sea br It is the breeze of morning, br This that comes hummingly. br br And like the talk that comes from br A room where a babe is born br Such clearness and such mystery br Are in words said on the morn, br br Where, like a nation cloven, br In two our ranks divide: br One half on the high ship's bulwark, br One half by the tender's side; br br Where, like a people sundered, br Who yet have each other's hail, br Faces look down from the bulwarks, br And look up from the tender's rail; br br And names are called and spoken br 'Nancy,' 'Mary,' 'Owen'! br 'Good-bye, and keep your promise!' br 'Farewell to you, my son!' br br They are more spirit-stirring br Than any words that are br Remembered from the spokesmen br Of any avatar! br br 'Oh, all I had to tell you!' br 'Ellen,' 'Michael,' 'Joan'- br 'Good-bye, and God be with you!' br 'And can it be you're gone!' br br The great ship lantern-girdled, br Her engines thresh, immerse br The great ship that had station br Takes motion for her course.