Alfred Noyes

A Sky Song

The Devil has launched his great, grey craft

To voyage in the sky;

But Life puts out with a thousand wings,

To rake His Majesty fore and aft

And prove that Wrong must die.


So has it been since time began,—

When Death would mount and fly,

A swifter fleet, with sharper stings,

Round him in lightning circles ran

And proved that Death must die.


Invincible, he came of old.

His galleons towered on high;

But Drake and his companions bold

And this proud sea that laughs and sings

Declared that Death must die.


So all these four free winds declare

And these pure realms of sky;

And these new admirals of the air,

Ay, Life with all her radiant wings

Declares that Death must die.