Robert Vernède
Hearken, O Mother, hearken to thy daughter!
Fain would I tell thee what men tell to me,
Saying that henceforth no more on any water
Shall I be first or great or loved or free,
But that these others—so the tale is spoken—
Who have not known thee all these centuries
By fire and sword shall yet turn England broken
Back from thy breast and beaten from thy seas,
Me—whom thou barest where thy waves should guard me,
Me—whom thou suckled’st on thy milk of foam,
Me—whom thy kisses shaped what while they marred me,
To whom thy storms are sweet and ring of home.
“Behold,” they cry, “she is grown soft and strengthless,
All her proud memories changed to fear and fret.”
Say, thou, who hast watched through ages that are lengthless,
Whom have I feared, and when did I forget?
What sons of mine have shunned thy whorls and races?
Have I not reared for thee time and again
And bid go forth to share thy fierce embraces
Sea-ducks, sea-wolves, sea-rovers, and sea-men?
Names that thou knowest—great hearts that thou holdest,
Rocking them, rocking them in an endless wake—
Captains the world can match not with its boldest,
Hawke, Howard, Grenville, Frobisher, Drake?
Nelson—the greatest of them all—the master
Who swept across thee like a shooting star,
And, while the Earth stood veiled before disaster,
Caught Death and slew him—there—at Trafalgar?
Mother, they knew me then as thou didst know me;
Then I cried, Peace, and every flag was furled:
But I am old, it seems, and they would show me
That never more my peace shall bind the world.
Wherefore, O Sea, I, standing thus before thee,
Stretch forth my hands unto thy surge and say:
“When they come forth who seek this empire o’er thee,
And I go forth to meet them—on that day
“God grant to us the old Armada weather,
The winds that rip, the heavens that stoop and lour—
Not till the Sea and England sink together,
Shall they be masters! Let them boast that hour!”
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Analysis (AI Assisted)
This war poem speaks to the enduring relationship between England and the sea, presenting the sea as both a protector and a constant force in the life of the speaker. Through the voice of a daughter pleading with her Mother England, the poem reflects on the strength and legacy of England’s naval power, which has shaped its identity and history. The speaker laments the perceived weakening of this power in the face of new challenges and foreign threats, but insists on the lasting resilience of England and its ability to defend itself, drawing from the storied past of England’s seafaring traditions.
The speaker’s appeal to Mother England sets a tone of deep reverence and connection. The Mother figure represents England, with the sea symbolizing its fierce, protective nature. The “milk of foam” and “storms” evoke a sense of nurturing, yet tempestuous love, highlighting the balance between England’s nurturing role and its unyielding defense of its people. The poem wrestles with the idea that England’s power may have been diminished by time, but it asserts that, despite the challenges, the legacy of its great maritime history still lives on.
Through references to famous figures of English naval history—such as Sir Francis Drake, Horatio Nelson, and other iconic figures—the poem invokes a sense of pride and continuity. These figures are described as embodiments of the strength and defiance that once defined England’s naval supremacy. The speaker’s evocation of the “old Armada weather” and the desire for the powerful conditions that characterized England’s past battles shows a longing for the return of that glory and strength.
The speaker’s deep connection to the sea is clear in the way they see it not only as a physical entity but as part of their identity, a source of power and pride. The poem reflects on the cyclical nature of history, acknowledging that times change, and new forces come to challenge old ones, but the speaker’s defiance suggests that England’s spirit—its pride, strength, and commitment to its heritage—will endure. The closing lines, asking for the “old Armada weather” to return and invoking the image of England sinking into the sea alongside its invaders, offer a powerful vision of steadfastness and resistance.
The poem captures a sense of both nostalgia and resolve. While it acknowledges the vulnerability and decline of England’s imperial might, it also insists that the sea will forever be a part of the nation’s soul, and through its storms and battles, England’s strength will continue to live on. The final plea for divine intervention to ensure England’s resilience is a call to preserve the spirit of its history and identity against those who would challenge it.
Overall, the poem uses the imagery of the sea and England’s naval legacy to explore themes of pride, loss, and resilience. It speaks to the enduring bond between a nation and its history, while also expressing the fear of losing that identity to external threats. The speaker’s firm belief in England’s strength, coupled with the longing for the glory of past victories, provides a poignant meditation on the challenges of defending one’s legacy in an ever-changing world.