Trafalgar Day.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 17, 28 October 1905, Page 22

Trafalgar Day.

Fame. with her trunqwt at her lips, In Old St. J’aul's to-day, Peals such a blast that all the world Has turned to look that way. Fame, with her trumpet at the grave of Rugland's sailor son. Over the laurel and the bay A hundred years have run. A hundred years whose waves have rolled JI is words on every strand— A hundred years whose winds have told His. tab- to every land. O great, and grim, and terrible Are Britain's walls of steel— Their flrm first course was laid right true In the gallant victory's keel. Thrice happy acoifri whose ! fall So sot the globe a swing. That all the bells of history With one accord must ring. And thus they peal, and thus they chime. In peace or war's commotion—- “ Britannia, Britannia rules the .ocean.” • Thrice happy oak whose boughs w.rxed strong, In sun and rain spread wide; Till they upbore the Empire’s weight Upon Trafalgar's tide. Of all the crafts of olden time That ghastly glide the sea. There is no ship so often seen As Nelson's Victory. With shattered mast, and battered poop. And cockpit smeared with blood, In every port, the Victory Disabled rides the flood. The sailor sees it looming dark Against the moonlit sky: The lonely shepherd holds his breath As the phantom passes by. The schoolboy mutters in Ins dream Of signals down the line; The veteran's hoarse “Ay, ay.” betrays His thoughts are in “Auld Lang Syne* The hero won bus wreath of bay— Short life and deathless fame: Gleams redly on the dizzy crag Nelson's immortal name. The spell of that high, parlous path That leads to death and glory. Is on us as again we trace Trafalgar’s thrilling sto'y. ROSTAN Auckland, 21st Oct<<er, 1905.