Ballads of Peace in War

II. THE SAILOR

    A sailor that rides the ocean wave,
    And I in my room at home:
          Where are the seas I fear to brave,
          Or the lands I may not roam?
          At the attic window I take my stand,
          And tighten the curtain sail,
          Then, ahoy!  I ride the leagues of land,
          Whether in calm or gale.

    Tree at anchor along the road
    Bow as I speed along;
          At sunny brooks in the valley I load
          Cargoes of blossom and song;
          Stories I take on the passing wind
          From the plains and forest seas,
          And the Golden Fleece I yet will find,
          And the fruit of Hesperides.

          Steady I keep my watchful eyes,
          As I range the thousand miles,
          Till evening tides in western skies
          Turn gold the cloudland isles;
          Then fast is the hatch and dark the screen,
          And I bring my cabin light;
          With a wink I change to a submarine
          And drop in the sea of Night.