Deep Water Poem by Cicely Fox Smith

Sink her in deep water
Where her proud sisters lie,
Wrecked in storm or sunk in fight
In the times gone by;
Far from the tides' turmoil,
From the wind and sun,
Sink her in deep water,
Now her day is done.

All the brave memories
Of her eight-score years -
The thrill of the chase, the capture,
The boarders' cheer,
The riddled ensign flying
In the cannon's hot breath,
And the fierce grapeshot crying
Its thin song of death;

The decks once reddened
With the blood she saw flow
For the dreams of an emperor,
Dust long ago -
All she wrought for, all she fought for,
In her great days past -
Let the sea's salt oblivion
Take at last!