Once again the ocean fulness,
Once again the daring leap,
All my limbs o'er-lapped in coolness,
All my joy upon the deep–
Arm that urges, wave that surges,
Foam that flies along the flood,
Over-strive and over-conquer
All the numbness and the nullness
In the languor of my blood,
And I dash among the breakers, and I overbear their rancour
Till I feel myself a man in might and mood.

Once again the field of glory,
Once again the battle-shout,

And my shield is hacked and gory,
And the foe is bold and stout;
There are rallies, there are sallies,
There is death in every blow,
But the mood of war grows godlike,
And the young men and the hoary
Charge with equal hearts aglow,
Till a thrust has pierced their fury–flung them headlong–lying clod-like
They are silent–but they triumph as they go!

Once again the soul's submergence
Under warring will and sense,
By the Law's almighty urgence
And the Sun's bright vehemence;
Plunging, diving, onward striving,
Through the shocks of change and chance–
Through the coils of flesh and passion,
Till the love-compelled convergence
Towards the Heart of all Romance,
To the Throne of Him who watches in the old victorious fashion
Comes a brother in humanity's advance.