Honour the brave who sleep
Where the lost Titanic lies,
The men who knew what a man must do
When he looks Death in the eyes.
“Women and children first,”—
Ah, strong and tender cry!
The sons whom women had borne and nursed,
Remembered—and dared to die.
The boats crept off in the dark:
The great ship groaned: and then—
O stars of the night, who saw that sight,
Bear witness, These were men !
November 9, 1912.