IN EAST AND NORTH.
Two sisters stand by Stamboul's sunny waters,
Two sisters sit where Arctic ice-winds rave—
Hands clasped, the first watch a fleet's crew at quarters;
Hands clasped, the second weep beside a grave.
The same two sisters;—long upon each other,
Stern have they frowned across their Channel sea:
But now all rivalries and hates they smother,
And sit thus, hand in hand laid lovingly.
Why, sisters, rest ye thus at peace together,
Your ancient feuds and factions all laid by?—
Why smile you in that purple Asian weather?
Why weep you 'neath that leaden Polar sky?
"Two causes, stranger, hold us thus united—
Both fit to make true friends of noble foes:
In the bright East we stand to see wrong righted,
In the black North, a hero's eyes we close.
"Those battle flags that side by side are swelling
Speak of brute force defied, of law maintained,
Those funeral flags that side by side are trailing,
Speak both of loss endured and triumph gained.
"Yon banded fleet to all the nations teaches
He that doth wrong his wrong shall sore abye;
The icy monument of Bellot preaches
How nobly love can live, how grandly faith can die.
"Are not these lessons worthy of the giving?
To give them is't not well we use our might?
Then leave us to our gladness and our grieving,
Under the Eastern sun, beneath the Polar night."