THE SHIP

There was no song nor shout of joy
　Nor beam of moon or sun,
When she came back from the voyage
　Long ago begun;
But twilight on the waters
　Was quiet and grey,
And she glided steady, steady and pensive,
　Over the open bay.

Her sails were brown and ragged,
　And her crew hollow-eyed,
But their silent lips spoke content
　And their shoulders pride;
Though she had no captives on her deck,
　And in her hold
There were no heaps of corn or timber
　Or silks or gold.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 J.C.Squire