Songs from Books Part 24

If she feels the lop already She'll stand on her head in the bay.

It's ebb--it's dusk--it's blowing.

The shoals are a mile of white.

But (s.n.a.t.c.h her along!) we're going To find our master to-night.

_For we hold that in all disaster Of shipwreck, storm, or sword, A Man must stand by his Master When once he has pledged his word._

Raging seas have we rowed in, But we seldom saw them thus; Our master is angry with Odin-- Odin is angry with us!

Heavy odds have we taken, But never before such odds.

The G.o.ds know they are forsaken, We must risk the wrath of the G.o.ds!

Over the crest she flies from, Into its hollow she drops, Cringes and clears her eyes from The wind-torn breaker-tops, Ere out on the shrieking shoulder Of a hill-high surge she drives.

Meet her! Meet her and hold her!

Pull for your scoundrel lives!

The thunders bellow and clamour The harm that they mean to do!

There goes Thor's own Hammer Cracking the dark in two!

Close! But the blow has missed her, Here comes the wind of the blow!

Row or the squall'll twist her Broadside on to it!--_Row!_

Heark 'ee, Thor of the Thunder!

We are not here for a jest-- For wager, warfare, or plunder, Or to put your power to test.

This work is none of our wishing-- We would house at home if we might-- But our master is wrecked out fishing.

We go to find him to-night.

_For we hold that in all disaster-- As the G.o.ds Themselves have said-- A Man must stand by his Master Till one of the two is dead._

That is our way of thinking, Now you can do as you will, While we try to save her from sinking And hold her head to it still.

Bale her and keep her moving, Or she'll break her back in the trough....

Who said the weather's improving, Or the swells are taking off?

Sodden, and chafed and aching, Gone in the loins and knees-- No matter--the day is breaking, And there's far less weight to the seas!

Up mast, and finish baling-- In oars, and out with the mead-- The rest will be two-reef sailing....

That was a night indeed!

_But we hold that in all disaster (And faith, we have found it true!) If only you stand by your master, The G.o.ds will stand by you!_

MORNING SONG IN THE JUNGLE

One moment past our bodies cast No shadow on the plain; Now clear and black they stride our track, And we run home again.

In morning hush, each rock and bush Stands hard, and high, and raw: Then give the Call: '_Good rest to all_ _That keep the Jungle Law!'_

Now horn and pelt our peoples melt In covert to abide; Now, crouched and still, to cave and hill Our Jungle Barons glide.

Now, stark and plain, Man's oxen strain, That draw the new-yoked plough; Now, stripped and dread, the dawn is red Above the lit _talao_.

Ho! Get to lair! The sun's aflare Behind the breathing gra.s.s: And creaking through the young bamboo The warning whispers pa.s.s.

By day made strange, the woods we range With blinking eyes we scan; While down the skies the wild duck cries: '_The Day--the Day to Man!_'

The dew is dried that drenched our hide, Or washed about our way; And where we drank, the puddled bank Is crisping into clay.

The traitor Dark gives up each mark Of stretched or hooded claw; Then hear the Call: '_Good rest to all That keep the Jungle Law!_'

BLUE ROSES

Roses red and roses white Plucked I for my love's delight.

She would none of all my posies-- Bade me gather her blue roses.

Half the world I wandered through, Seeking where such flowers grew; Half the world unto my quest Answered me with laugh and jest.

Home I came at wintertide, But my silly love had died, Seeking with her latest breath Roses from the arms of Death.

It may be beyond the grave She shall find what she would have.

Mine was but an idle quest-- Roses white and red are best.

A RIPPLE SONG

Once a ripple came to land In the golden sunset burning-- Lapped against a maiden's hand, By the ford returning.

_Dainty foot and gentle breast-- Here, across, be glad and rest.

'Maiden, wait,' the ripple saith; 'Wait awhile, for I am Death!'_

'Where my lover calls I go-- Shame it were to treat him coldly-- 'Twas a fish that circled so, Turning over boldly.'

_Dainty foot and tender heart, Wait the loaded ferry-cart.

'Wait, ah, wait!' the ripple saith; 'Maiden, wait, for I am Death!'_

'When my lover calls I haste-- Dame Disdain was never wedded!'

Ripple-ripple round her waist, Clear the current eddied.

_Foolish heart and faithful hand, Little feet that touched no land.

Far away the ripple sped, Ripple--ripple--running red!_

b.u.t.tERFLIES