Dig deep, and tumble in the bones!
Dig in the sand whence the tide has fled,
Turn them over, the creaking dead,
Silent the skull and still the groans,—
Dig deep and tumble in the bones.
Man was he once, and the sea-bar moans
A dirge for the death of a soul of steel,
A soul that skippered a saucy keel,
A keel that weathered the hurrying zones,—
Dig deep and tumble in the bones.
Kings were twain on their tossing thrones,
Flaunted a flag skull-barred and black,
Woe to the merchant that crossed their track!
But one must die while one atones,—
Dig deep and tumble in the bones!
A guerdon of gold the deep disowns,
A sea-cave robbed of its glittering hoard,
Leaping dinghys to bring aboard
What the ocean gives not, merely loans,—
Dig deep and tumble in the bones.
A landing at night where the ebb-tide drones,
A thrust, a curse, a yell of pain,—
Bleaching corpse in wind and rain,
One man snatched from Davy Jones,—
Dig deep and tumble in the bones!