The great grey ships! We saw them in our dreaming,
The strong grey ships-the ships of our desire,
Watched by the stars, and by the dawn's white gleaming,
And followed by the winds that never tire.

O, but we trusted them through days of weeping,
Blessed them each one, and bid each one depart
With all the brave we gave into its keeping,
The priceless, garnered treasure of the heart!

Long, long they haunted us when gales were blowing,-
Dim wraiths of ships, like shadows in the rain;-
Little we slept on winter nights of snowing,
Thinking of those who might not sail again.

Yet-dear grey ships-the spirits of the fearless,
Lost many a day beneath the deepest blue,-
The souls of mighty sailors, bright and tearless,
Arose from out the sea to sail with you.

And not alone you kept your banners flying,-
And not alone you met each bitter day,-
For dauntless ones,-unseen, and death-defying,
Swept outward with you on your darkened way!