Thunder peal and roar and rattle of the ships in line of battle,
Rumbling noise of steel volcanoes hurling metal from the shore,
Drowned the sound of quiet speaking and the creaking, creaking, creaking
Of the steering-gear that turned her toward the narrow harbor door.
On the hulk was calm and quiet, deeper for the shoreward riot;
Dumb they watched the fountain streaming; mute they heard the waters hiss,
Till one laughed and murmured, “Surely it was worth while rising early
For a fireworks exhibition of such character as this.”
Down the channel the propeller drove her as they tried to shell her
From the dizzy heights of Morro and Socapa parapet;