<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">The Dawn Patrol</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">SOMETIMES I fly at dawn above the sea,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Where, underneath, the restless waters flow-</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Silver, and cold, and slow.</p><p class="line">Dim in the east there burns a new-born sun,</p><p class="line">Whose rosy gleams along the ripples run,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Save where the mist droops low.</p><p class="line">Hiding the level loneliness from me.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">And now appears beneath the milk-white haze</p><p class="line">A little fleet of anchored ships, which lie</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">In clustered company.</p><p class="line">And seem as they are yet fast bound by sleep.</p><p class="line">Although the da.f has long begun to peep,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With red-inflamed eye.</p><p class="line">Along the still, deserted ocean ways.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">The fresh, cold wind of dawn blows on my face</p><p class="line">As in the sun's raw heart I swiftly fly.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And watch the seas glide by.</p><p class="line">Scarce human seem I, moving through the skies.</p><p class="line">And far removed from warlike enterprise—</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Like some great gull on high</p><p class="line">Whose white and gleaming wings beat on through</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">space.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Then do I feel with' God quite, quite alone,</p><p class="line">High in the virgin morn, so white and still.</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And free from human ill:</p><p class="line">My prayers transcend my feeble earth-bound</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">plaints—</p><p class="line">As though I sang among the happy Saints</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With many a holy thrill—</p><p class="line">As though the glowing sun were God's bright</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Throne.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">My flight is done. I cross the line of foam</p><p class="line">That breaks around a town of grey and red,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Whose streets and squares lie dead</p><p class="line">Beneath the silent dawn—then am I proud</p><p class="line">That England's peace to guard I am allowed;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Then bow my humble head,</p><p class="line">In thanks to Him Who brings me safely home.</p></div></body></html> · Great War