Two Flags

Trumpets pealed back on land and war drums beat;
and so must sailors now leave land behind.
And must move here and here a sparkling fleet:
Brave navies found far from homeports kind.

In print, yellow is yellow, red is red;
they are two diff’rent colors on the map.
On deck, alive is alive, dead is dead;
each common hazard a lethal trap.

In peace, when you meet a sailor fellow,
you’re friends, both allied against the water.
But the map says red is still not yellow,
and when sailors meet, there must be slaughter.

And the blood sea’s slaughter must e’er increase
Until our fierce adm’rals can signal peace.