<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Naval Reserve</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">From</span> the undiscovered deep</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Where the blessed lie at ease --</p><p class="line">Since the ancient navies keep</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Empire of the heavenly seas --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Back they come, the mighty dead,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Quick to serve where they have led.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Rushing on the homeward gale,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Swift they come, to seek their place</p><p class="line">Where the grey flotillas sail,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Where the children of their race</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Now against the foe maintain</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">All they gave their lives to gain.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Rank on rank, the admirals</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Rally to their old commands;</p><p class="line">Where the crash of battle falls,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">There the one-armed hero stands.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Loud upon his phantom mast</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Speak the signals of the past.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Where upon the friendly wave</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Stand our squadrons as of old,</p><p class="line">Where the lonely deed and brave</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Shall the ancient torch uphold --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Strive for England, side by side,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Those who live and those who died.</p></div><p class="byline">EVELYN UNDERHILL</p><em>New Weekly, August</em> 15, 1914</body></html> · Great War