Poems (Curwen)/H.M.S. "Powerful" at Sea

by Annie Isabel Curwen

H.M.S. "Powerful" at Sea.

Time and patience, care and skill,
Effect the purpose of the will.
 To-day with kindling eyes we see
The consummation of the plan,
The perfected Leviathan,
 A proof of Barrow's industry.

A thrilling sight, in truth, is she
Slow moving o'er the sunlit sea,
 Manned by her gallant crew,
With towering masts and lofty sides,
Onward, majestically she glides
 To the ocean calm and blue.

What has the"Powerful" to be?
A sentinel to guard the sea
 When danger threatens home;
A watchdog, whose sonorous bay
Will scare the skulking foe away,
 If they should dare to come.

A guardian to protect the seas,
A powerful foe to enemies;
 A floating fort of braves,
Whose duty it must ever be
To let all adverse nations see
 Britannia rules the waves.

God speed her! fervently we pray,
As o'er the bar she steams away.
 God's blessing be upon her!
And may she prove in time of need
To friend and foe a power indeed
 To dear old England's honour.