Lukannon

           Thisisthegreatdeep-seasongthatalltheSt.Paulsealssingwhentheyareheadingbacktotheirbeachesinthesummer.ItisasortofverysadsealNationalAnthem.

           Imetmymatesinthemorning(and,oh,butIamold!)

           Whereroaringontheledgesthesummerground-swellrolled;

           Iheardthemliftthechorusthatdrownedthebreakers’song—

           TheBeachesofLukannon—twomillionvoicesstrong.

           Thesongofpleasantstationsbesidethesaltlagoons,

           Thesongofblowingsquadronsthatshuffleddownthedunes,

           Thesongofmidnightdancesthatchurnedtheseatoflame—

           TheBeachesofLukannon—beforethesealerscame!

           Imetmymatesinthemorning(I’llnevermeetthemmore!);

           Theycameandwentinlegionsthatdarkenedalltheshore.

           Ando’erthefoam-fleckedoffingasfarasvoicecouldreach

           Wehailedthelanding-partiesandwesangthemupthebeach.

           TheBeachesofLukannon—thewinterwheatsotall—

           Thedripping,crinkledlichens,andthesea-fogdrenchingall!

           Theplatformsofourplayground,allshiningsmoothandworn!

           TheBeachesofLukannon—thehomewherewewereborn!

           Imetmymatesinthemorning,abroken,scatteredband.

           Menshootusinthewaterandclubusontheland;

           MendriveustotheSaltHouselikesillysheepandtame,

           AndstillwesingLukannon—beforethesealerscame.

           Wheeldown,wheeldowntosouthward;oh,Gooverooska,go!

           AndtelltheDeep-SeaViceroysthestoryofourwoe;

           Ere,emptyastheshark’seggthetempestflingsashore,

           TheBeachesofLukannonshallknowtheirsonsnomore!