WELCOME TO THE FLEET ODE COMPETITION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 8, 19 August 1908, Page 50

WELCOME TO THE FLEET ODE COMPETITION.

ROME MORE INTERESTING POEMS. \ \ WELCOME TO THE AMER HAN FLEET—AUG ( ST, 1908. •Tis America we honour, nil America*!* our guest; |AII her power and her glory in her navy is expressed. Not for self alone we play the host on this auspicious day, But foi Britain and the Empire; let us then be great and gay. Let our welcome be Imperial, and no great tradition break; JNot America, not Britain, flattery gives or deigns to take. Welcome, sons of great Columbia, round the world from main to main. Welcome, children of our fathers, blood of Saxon, Norman. Dane. (Conic to our Pacific islaml, not to terrify and spoil, [But as genial human, brothers, racy of the sea and s-»j|. With the pride and pomp of eagles, stern, magnificent, august; Yet like swan< serenely gliding, stately, peacefully and ju-t. Hail! we give you honest welcome free from parasitic praise: Welcome to remot • New Zealand in these wintry August days. tV.'e are young among the greater be our joy and zest; Welcome to our town ami harbour, lat-* est. lonlicst. loveliest. * Though you visit lis in winter, it is summer in otir hearts; Fo with palms ami Hags and flowers gay we deck our streets and masts. W eleome tn your youth ami manhood, to vour discipline and zeal. To your perfect self-reliance; honestly we wish you weal

WeL-ome, ministers of justice, arbiters of war amt peace; You proclaim In all the oceans Freedom’s everlasting lease. We are proud you (.speak our language, proud -your Longfellow is ours, Proud our Shakespeare and our Milton bred your country’s mental powers. Hail! you stand for all that’s' vitalhuman perpetuity, Faith and Labour, Art and Science, pluck, ozone ' ami chivalry. By our faith in human progress, and by Hope’s pacific star, By <mr love of ways diviner, welcome hither mon of war. Welcome from the old Atlantic, where our sailors’ genius grew, From the seaboard and the highway of the Old World and the New. To whose music bold and thunderous rose Britannia strong and free, In our hearts the first ami foremost, mother, mistress of the sea. Cousins, your star-spangled banner, with our Inion Jack we twine; May the two abide in union for all time, the sea land sign. Of the power of light and leading—till all jealousy shall cease, And the whole wide world is girded with the flowing tides of peace. We are honoured, and our welcome’s free from any weakly thought Of dependence on your greatness;oft our British fathers fought. So did yours, for life and freedom, in the days of storm and stress. And for country, home and duty; we shall dare to do no less. By your visit we' are honoured; there our thoughts begin and end; We are proud, and seek no favour, only this —be thou our friend. Best of company, gay good humour, all the circumstance unique, We may never see its fellow—is it but a lavish freak? Or maybe a golden nroment granted in our own affairs, To duf easy-going pifrisli offering nobler joys and cares?,

Offering to us an inspiring sense of world-w ide brotherhood, Sense of discipline to duty, fox- our vital daily food. •Overboard with ways parochial, let us be both great and gay; All America and Europe turn their- eyes on us to-day. Thanks fox- this unique reminder of our proper destiny— We have all the tools of greatness, race, resources, land and sea. We have great ideals to incarnate —unto each Ixis due reward; Honest cities, noble' children, troops of them for national guard. Precious fruits enrich our title to the glorious Southern Cross; We must fortify our kingdom, must be eithei- gold ox- dross. Friends, you have -achieved greatness —• wi- are greater from to-day In tin- sight of all the nations—Heaven speed you on youx- way. When you close youx- great sea-circle, when your people proudly greet. Then the glories of your voyage will be gloriously complete. rare thee well, devoted seamen, jolly cosmopolitans ; May your interest be bur interest, and our interest be Maxi’s. FREDERICK WIIEELER. WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN FLEET. We welcome you, oux- brother leal, Our bells ring out their gladsome peal; But naught expresses how we feel The kinship of America. Our faces beam with glad delight, When once youx- warships heave in sight, We hold your hands, and press them tight In friendship for America. Our voices yell a wild “ Hooray! ” When proudly steaming up our Bay, Youx- vessels make their stately way. Our cheers are fox- America.

Our town is yours by night and day, I Throughout the time you with us -tay. All hospitality we say, Extend it to America. Command us, then, to do your wiJJ: When done, you will fin'd us waiting still, Some further office yet to fill In service to America. Not selfishly we take our stand. To greet you in oux- sunny land, j But that the gain go hand in hand) Advantaging America. Not what is now, but what may be, We’d have you in' your wisdom see. Oux- ports and commerce always free And open to America, Joint partners in our countries’ trade, A compact surely now is made, To keep xis brothers and'to aid Good feeling with America. Through years of peace the eoffers fill, ■Our business thrives through good and ill. What wonder that we wish to still Be partners with America. But should the cloud of war arise, 1 And darken the commercial skies, t Is’t'selfishness to turn oux- eyes Appealing to America?- _ To Briton’s heart it would be dear To find in battle you were near ; We’d show the "world there’s 'naught to fear, Were you with ns, America. In time to come, our isles, mayhap, May be attacked by Master Jap. Would you appear, like thunder-clapT We think you would'. America. Yoxx’il join us ’gainst the Eastern foe, And clearly make the world to know, Oux- nanxes are one-when blood must fi ow. Great Britain arid America. Then welcome, brothers, to our land, We greet you warmly, clasp your hand, And 'gainst the world we'll proudly, stand, Allied to Great America.

CLYDE BALLANTYNE.