On the Raising of the 'Mary Rose'

From the waters of the Solent, 11 October, 1982.

Long since I sailed me

I and ‘Great Harry’

Pride of the ragged fleet

When we were merrie,

Heel at the wind, my tars,

Gunports at ready.

 

There sat the Frenchman

Here, our great ships,

Hard on the helm we are

As the port dips,

Long cries of ‘Mary Rose’

Die on their lips.

 

Deep-dredged these centuries

Now wedged on high

Stark, as my timbers

Wide-arc the sky;

Where now ‘Great Harry’,

Where does he lie?

 

Torn from my bitter-rest

Borne to your day,

Wide-eyed and wild is my

Sad disarray;

Tell my ‘Great Harry’ now -

Your world is grey.

 

David Lewis Paget