A Memory of Schooldays

A Memory of Schooldays                                                                                                        

Cargoes

Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir,                                                                                                                                           

Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,                                                                                                       

With a cargo of ivory,                                                                                                                   

And apes and peacocks,                                                                                                                    

Sandalwood, cedarwood and sweet white wine.

Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus,                                                                                                                                

Dipping through the Tropics by the palm green shores,                                                                                     

With a cargo of diamonds,                                                                                                                                    

Emeralds, amethysts,                                                                                                                     

Topazes and cinnamon and gold moidores.

Dirty British coaster with a salt caked smokestack,                                                                                                    

Battling through the Channel in the mad March days,                                                                                              

With a cargo of Tyne coal,                                                                                                                                       

Road rail, pig lead,                                                                                                                                                               

Firewood, iron waste and cheap tin trays.

John Masefield