The Ship Of The Nation Poem by Marcus Czarnecki

Come together, Oh! my hearties
Let's build our ship in a joyful air
The time is ripe, my eternal Hearties!
Set sail for salvation on the strength of a prayer

Life is rich, life is earnest,
Yet it it's haste it flashes by.
A moment only, to test the righteous
And only fools pause to question. Why?

Laying the timbers over a decade
Making sure the shape is true
Now seeing the plan is eternally made
And provisional teachings prevent 'Coming through'

Ten years trying to be the Buddhist!
When all I had to be was me.
Awakened through study - Liberationist!
Now to excel - for that fool was me!

'So build me straight. Oh! worthy Master!
Staunch and strong, a goodly vessel.
That shall laugh at all disaster
And with wave and whirlwind wrestle.'

Build me strong for England's' mission.
Train me true! My only prayer.
Calmly surmounting all derision
And every tempest of despair.

The hammer of learning has rendered it's wealth,
The devils of delusion have scored only a 'fail',
The great harbour of truth is emblazoned with 'self
And the Ship of my life stands ready to sail!

In the silent dockyard of the Nation,
The finished Ship stands ready now.
With her name. Human Salvation!
Majestically carved upon her prow.

'Tis only the lapping of the waves' overture,
Or the fluttering Standard of the Buddha's' truth
That gives the impression of impending adventure
On the greatest voyage for Actual proof.

'Can we teach the Nation'? Cried the crewmen.
'And open up these hearts in pain?
And put to rout, doubt and confusion?
And fulfil the promise once again? '

'Just do it! ' So the helmsman bellowed!
'You've learned the secrets of the sea.
Knowing, only those who brave it's dangers
Comprehend it's mystery! '

'There's nothing more to teach or learn!
You know what there's to do!
'Tis the temper with which our equal hearts yearn
As for the quest? Well! it's over to you.'

'The lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime!
And, departing, leave behind us,
Footprints in the sands of time'

Not any footprints left behind us.
Not any wake on the Human sea,
But such a memory to remind us. Oh! my hearties.
A vindication of 'Who we be! '

'Then sail on! And brave all dangers.'
The crew triumphed in one accord.
'Let's carve out good friends from so many strangers,
And teach the Nation 'Life' once more!

There is no way our quest can fail
There is no way for us to loose
For we are all under but one sail
And it's up to us all, if we but choose

So! Sail on Salvation! Mighty and great.
Sail on Oh! ship of faith.
Humanity, with all her fears,
With all her hope for future years,
Is hanging, breathless, on our fate.



Dedicated to SGI-UK Members Written January 1997 - after assisting at my first chapter study lecture on The Ship to Cross the Sea of Suffering, by Nichiren Daishonin. With poetic inspiration from Longfellow!