Main Street, and Other Poems

<h2> Mid-ocean in War-time </h2> <h3> (For My Mother) </h3> <p>The fragile splendour of the level sea,<br/> The moon's serene and silver-veiled face,<br/> Make of this vessel an enchanted place<br/> Full of white mirth and golden sorcery.<br/> Now, for a time, shall careless laughter be<br/> Blended with song, to lend song sweeter grace,<br/> And the old stars, in their unending race,<br/> Shall heed and envy young humanity.<br/> <br/> And yet to-night, a hundred leagues away,<br/> These waters blush a strange and awful red.<br/> Before the moon, a cloud obscenely grey<br/> Rises from decks that crash with flying lead.<br/> And these stars smile their immemorial way<br/> On waves that shroud a thousand newly dead!<br/></p> <p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"></SPAN></p> <br/> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />