When Ships Put Out To Sea Poem by Madison Julius Cawein

It's 'Sweet, good-bye,' when pennants fly
And ships put out to sea;
It's a loving kiss, and a tear or two
In an eye of brown or an eye of blue;
And you'll remember me,
Sweetheart,
And you'll remember me.


II


It's 'Friend or foe?' when signals blow
And ships sight ships at sea;
It's clear for action, and man the guns,
As the battle nears or the battle runs;
And you'll remember me,
Sweetheart,
And you'll remember me.


III


It's deck to deck, and wrath and wreck
When ships meet ships at sea;
It's scream of shot and shriek of shell,
And hull and turret a roaring hell;
And you'll remember me,
Sweetheart,
And you'll remember me.


IV


It's doom and death, and pause a breath
When ships go down at sea;
It's hate is over and love begins,
And war is cruel whoever wins;
And you'll remember me,
Sweetheart,
And you'll remember me.