Patriotism

The coral crumbles, and paradise is overthrown in sand And they pour the children into it like water upon tongues What the breeze blows in my eyes cannot blind my tears Your captains do not know the shoals like me, I dreamed awake Among the reefs, before the breakers plundered everything I long now to hold your rudder, but time has rot the ropey ladder Night and day, high tides and low, I sob to mount the slippery deck Where the tropic spray may slap may face and brace me to the plank Until I dock the fairest ship in history's fairest weather