1. ۱1
2. ۲TO-DAY a rude brief recitative,
3. ۳Of ships sailing the Seas, each with its special flag or ship-signal;
4. ۴Of unnamed heroes in the ships—Of waves spreading and spreading, far as the eye can reach;
5. ۵
6. ۶Of dashing spray, and the winds piping and blowing;
7. ۷And out of these a chant, for the sailors of all nations,
8. ۸Fitful, like a surge.
9. ۹
10. ۱۰Of Sea-Captains young or old, and the Mates—and of all intrepid Sailors;
11. ۱۱Of the few, very choice, taciturn, whom fate can never surprise, nor death dismay,
12. ۱۲Pick’d sparingly, without noise, by thee, old Ocean—chosen by thee,
13. ۱۳Thou Sea, that pickest and cullest the race, in Time, and unitest Nations!
14. ۱۴Suckled by thee, old husky Nurse—embodying thee!
15. ۱۵Indomitable, untamed as thee.
16. ۱۶
17. ۱۷(Ever the heroes, on water or on land, by ones or twos appearing,
18. ۱۸Ever the stock preserv’d, and never lost, though rare—enough for seed preserv’d.)
19. ۱۹
20. ۲۰2
21. ۲۱Flaunt out O Sea, your separate flags of nations!
22. ۲۲Flaunt out, visible as ever, the various ship-signals!
23. ۲۳But do you reserve especially for yourself, and for the soul of man, one flag above all
24. ۲۴ the
25. ۲۵ rest,
26. ۲۶A spiritual woven Signal, for all nations, emblem of man elate above death,
27. ۲۷Token of all brave captains, and all intrepid sailors and mates,
28. ۲۸And all that went down doing their duty;
29. ۲۹Reminiscent of them—twined from all intrepid captains, young or old;
30. ۳۰A pennant universal, subtly waving, all time, o’er all brave sailors,
31. ۳۱All seas, all ships.