On Severn ‘Neath the Sky

On Severn ‘Neath the Sky
Dedicated to all who have pulled an oar for Navy Lightweight Crew

Sing me a song of an oar who is gone,
Say, could that oar be I?
Winsome and strong he rowed on a day
On Severn ‘neath the sky.

Tower astern, Manresa to port,
Bancroft on starboard bow,
“Glory of youth glowed in his soul:
Where is that glory now?”*

Give me again all that was then,
Give me the race well-won!
Give me the strength and endurance again,
Give me that oar who’s gone!

Sing me a song of an oar who is gone,
Say, could that oar be I?
Winsome and strong he rowed on a day
On Severn ‘neath the sky.

Riggers and slides, catches and drives,
Power tens by eight as one,
All that esprits and camaraderie
And that oar who was me is gone.

But as night follows day and light follows the sun,
The oar who was gives way,
And though strength and endurance of youth may be gone:
Memories forever stay.

Sing me a song of an oar who is gone,
Say, could that oar be I?
Winsome and strong he rowed on a day
On Severn ‘neath the sky.

Gary Arthur Lundeen
NavyLights74-78 Reunion II – 24-26 March 2006

Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s Over the Sea to Skye

* Quoted from Over the Sea to Skye