Never since English ships went out
To singe the beard of Spain,
Or English sea-dogs hunted death
Along the Spanish Main,
Never since Drake and Raleigh won
Our freedom of the seas,
Have sons of Britain dared and done
More valiantly than these.
Whether at midnight or at noon,
Through mist or open sky,
Eagles of freedom, all our hearts
Are up with you on high;
While Britain's mighty ghosts look down
From realms beyond the sun
And whisper, as their record pales,
Their breathless, deep, Well Done!
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Comments
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A most heartfelt tribute to the Royal Air Force. Noyes seems to make sure that the 'boys in blue' knew that the poeple of Britain were supporting them in their endeavours too. A timely poem to be directed too in the month of November. Von
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From guest Robert Allard (contact)
Is it OK for me to include this poem in our newsletter of the Royal Air Forces Association, Roe Valley Branch. With what ever your wish for credits & origin? I wish to place it under the heading "Poets Corner". It is especially relevant for this time of year. -
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To Robert.
To the best of our knowledge this has now entered the Public Domain and requires no special permissions but courtesy would dictate a reference to the author. If you also wish to add a reference to ourselves here at Oldpoetry please feel free to indicate the web address.
As a RAFA member myself may i wish you well with your project.
Jim [Flt Lt retd]
OldPoetry Team Manager
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Churchill's Never in the field of human endeavour.... speech may have been more succinct but Noyes, I think, expressed the feelings of gratitude much more movingly in these two verses. The parallel between the supposedly invincible Armada and the Luftwaffe is clearly made, as is the magnitude of the success and it's contribution to the two seperate conflicts.
The final understated Well Done is the epitome of high praise. -
cool
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