"HE bore the name of William Brown" -- His name, at least, did not go down With him that day He went the way Of certain death where duty lay. He looked his fate full in the face -- He saw his watery resting-place Undaunted, and With firmer hand Held others' hopes in sure command. -- The hopes of full three hundred lives -- Aye, babes unborn, and promised wives! "The odds are dread," He must have said, "Here, God, is one poor life instead." No time for praying overmuch -- No time for tears, or woman's touch Of tenderness, Or child's caress -- His last "God bless them!" stopped at "bless" -- Thus man and engine, nerved with steel, Clasped iron hands for woe or weal, And so went down Where dark waves drown All but the name of William Brown. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UPON PRUE, HIS MAID by ROBERT HERRICK THE POTATOES' DANCE by NICHOLAS VACHEL LINDSAY FANCIES AT NAVESINK: 7 by WALT WHITMAN BLIND by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE VERS LIBRE by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS IN THE CATACOMBS by HARLAN HOUSE BALLARD THE COMMON A-TOOK IN by WILLIAM BARNES |