Such As In Ships (Brazilian Verses)

by Rudyard Kipling

　　

---

Such as in Ships and brittle Barks Into the Seas descend Shall learn how wholly on those Arks Our Victuals do depend. For, when a Man would bite or sup, Or buy him Goods or Gear, He needs must call the Oceans up, And move an Hemisphere. Consider, now, that Indian Weed Which groweth o’er the Main, With Teas and Cottons for our Need, And Sugar of the Cane, Their Comings We no more regard Than daily Corn or Oil: Yet, when Men waft Them Englandward, How infinite the Toil! Nation and People harvesteth The tropique Lands among, And Engines of tumultuous Breath Do draw the Yield along, Yea, even as by Hecatombs Which, presently struck down Into our Navies’ labouring Wombs Make Pennyworths in Town.

---

---