Written for The Missions to Seamen

"And there are diversities of operations . . ."
ST. PAUL.

WATCHFUL and wakeful and lonely, mocked by the rack of the night,

Fighting the powers of darkness, girt with the armour of light,

Reined on the rim of the Kingdom—"Galloper", "Scarweather", "Mouse"—

Where can ye hope to excel them! Daughters of Trinity House!

Seek ye to enter the Kingdom? Well might the doughtiest fear

Peril, except for the Lightship's: "Such—is the course ye shall steer.

Safe through the shoals and the darkness," yea, whosoever shall come,

"Seven Stones", "Goodwin" or "Dowsing" shepherd the wanderers home.

Single, the flash of the "Warner", triple, the Liverpool "Bar",

Crimson and white of the "Owers", so do they greet you afar,

None shows the beam of her sister, well is their law understood:

"Each by the light as she has it, knowing all Light to be good."

Lonely—but steadfast and patient, freedom they know not nor fame,

Heirs—to a birthright of Service, Crowned—in accepting the same;

So may the ships of the Kingdom, led by their welcoming glow,

Carry that Light to the havens, whithersoever they go.

THE LIGHTSHIPS (hearing, for the first time, by their newly installed

wireless, the bells of St. Martin in the Fields, and fearful of

anything which might distract their attention from their Service

to the Ships at sea):

"Somebody calling the Lightships Why can't they leave us alone?

Call up at daylight—Speak Louder—You have a Law like our own?

Same sort of job as a Lightship's?—Might be 'St. Goven's' own twin!!

Right—Go ahead then, St. Martin's—Lightships are listening-in."