<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Unconquered Hope</h1><p class="inline-note" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">(A ship recently arrived in England from America, laden with toys, the gift of the American people, for the children both of the Allies and the Enemy.)</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">From</span> sea to sea, from shore to shore,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The clouds of death and doom</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Veil the sun's soft and kindly beam; --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Yet, can ye see one light agleam</p><p class="line">Where a stately ship comes threading</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Its pathway thro' the gloom?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Say ye 'tis but a ship of steel?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Are ye so dead, so blind!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Can ye not see the rainbow spray</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">That dances on the good ship's way,</p><p class="line">Nor hear the strange, deep whispers</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That wander on the wind?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">What are the gifts the proud ship brings</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To the weary world and old?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Trifles to fill a childish hand?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Why, hardly the angels understand</p><p class="line">The richness of the treasure</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That lies within its hold!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Oh, breaking thro' the mist of dreams</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That wreathe the distant bar,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The vessel comes with a strange light dress'd,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">And, tho' it sails from out the West,</p><p class="line">Upon its flag there glistens</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A golden Eastern star!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">For when the world is blackest,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And man is blind with blood</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">And buried deep in his guilt and pride,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">This is the ship that takes the tide</p><p class="line">And sends its lamp of healing</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Across the soul's dark flood.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">It comes once more as it oft has come,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">With its faëry wings outspread --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Can ye not see them, eyes that grope,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Nor read its name, <em>The Unconquered Hope</em>,</p><p class="line">Nor yet discern the halo</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Around its Figurehead?</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">What are the gifts the proud ship brings?</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Oh childish smiles and tears;</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">Oh childish faith that breaks thro' all</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:4%">The sin that holds the world in thrall!...</p><p class="line">A rift is in the darkness --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A ship, a ship appears.</p></div><p class="byline">-- Gilbert Thomas.</p></body></html> · Great War