<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Mine-Sweepers</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">Dawn</span> off the Foreland -- the young flood making</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Jumbled and short and steep --</p><p class="line">Black in the hollows and bright where it's breaking --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Awkward water to sweep.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">"Mines reported in the fairway,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Warn all traffic and detain.</p><p class="line">Sent up <em>Unity</em>, <em>Claribel</em>, <em>Assyrian</em>, <em>Stormcock</em>, and <em>Golden Gain</em>."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Noon off the Foreland -- the first ebb making</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Lumpy and strong in the bight.</p><p class="line">Boom after boom, and the golf-hut shaking</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And the jackdaws wild with fright.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">"Mines located in the fairway,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Boats now working up the chain,</p><p class="line">Sweepers -- <em>Unity</em>, <em>Claribel</em>, <em>Assyrian</em>, <em>Stormcock</em>, and <em>Golden Gain</em>."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Dusk off the Foreland -- the last light going</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And the traffic crowding through,</p><p class="line">And five damned trawlers with their syreens blowing</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Heading the whole review!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">"Sweep completed in the fairway,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">No more mines remain.</p><p class="line">Sent back <em>Unity</em>, <em>Claribel</em>, <em>Assyrian</em>, <em>Stormcock</em>, and <em>Golden Gain</em>."</p></div><p class="byline">Rudyard Kipling</p></body></html> · Great War