NORTHUMBERLAND

Between our eastward and our westward sea

The narrowing strand

Clasps close the noblest shore fame holds in fee

Even here where English birth seals all men free —

Northumberland.

The sea-mists meet across it when the snow

Clothes moor and fell,

And bid their true-born hearts who love it glow

For joy that none less nobly born may know

What love knows well.

The splendour and the strength of storm and fight

Sustain the song

That filled our fathers’ hearts with joy to smite,

To live, to love, to lay down life that right

Might tread down wrong.

They warred, they sang, they triumphed, and they passed,

And left us glad

Here to be born, their sons, whose hearts hold fast

The proud old love no change can overcast,

No chance leave sad.

None save our northmen ever, none but we,

Met, pledged, or fought

Such foes and friends as Scotland and the sea

With heart so high and equal, strong in glee

And stern in thought.

Thought, fed from time's memorial springs with pride,

Made strong as fire

Their hearts who hurled the foe down Flodden side,

And hers who rode the waves none else durst ride —

None save her sire.

O land beloved, where nought of legend's dream

Outshines the truth,

Where Joyous Gard, closed round with clouds that gleam

For them that know thee not, can scarce but seem

Too sweet for sooth,

Thy sons forget not, nor shall fame forget,

The deed there done

Before the walls whose fabled fame is yet

A light too sweet and strong to rise and set

With moon and sun.

Song bright as flash of swords or oars that shine

Through fight or foam

Stirs yet the blood thou hast given thy sons like wine

To hail in each bright ballad hailed as thine

One heart, one home.

Our Collingwood, though Nelson be not ours,

By him shall stand

Immortal, till those waifs of oldworld hours,

Forgotten, leave uncrowned with bays and flowers

Northumberland.