WHITE WINGS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 8 December 1927, Page 5

WHITE WINGS

STILL SAIL THE SEVEN SEAS. (Received 8, 9.10 a.m.) London, Dec. 7. That the sailing ship has still an important part to play is the declaration of the President of the British Sailingship Owners’ Association. The day of skilled adventurous crews is not passed. The world’s present tonnage of sailers is 1,153,000, representing 690 ships, of which 25,000 tons are British, Clipper Ships Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made, For somewhere deep in their oaken hearts the soul of a song is laid; A soul that sings with the ship along through plunging hills of blue. And fills her canvas cups of white with winds that drive her through. For how could a nail and a piece of wood, tied with a canvas thread, Become a nymph of moon-washed paths if the soul of the ship were fled? Her bosom throbs as her lover’s arms clasp her in fond embrace, And the joyous kiss, of briny lips is fresh on her maiden face, No storm can smother the hempen song that wells in her laughing throat— Small wonder, then, that men go mail for the love of the sea and a boat. For the singing sheet is a siren that tugs at the heart: of men, And down to the Sea they must go once more, Tho’ they never came back again. —Robert N. Rose ,in “The Commonweal.”