James Elroy Flecker Quotes

I have seen old ships sail like swans asleep.

A ship, an isle, a sickle moon – With few but with how splendid stars The mirrors of the sea are strewn Between their silver bars!

West of these out to seas colder than the Hebrides I must go Where the fleet of stars is anchored and the young Star captains glow.

Half to forget the wandering and pain, Half to remember days that have gone by, And dream and dream that I am home again!

For pines are gossip pines the wide world through And full of runic tales to sigh or sing.

The dragon-green, the luminous, the dark, the serpent-haunted sea.

How splendid in the morning glows the lily; with what grace he throws His supplication to the rose.

For lust of knowing what should not be known, We take the Golden Road to Samarkand.

O friend unseen, unborn, unknown, Student of our sweet English tongue, Read out my words at night, alone: I was a poet, I was young.