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Henry Van Dyke - Sea-Gulls of Manhattan
Work rating: Medium

Children of the elemental mother, 
     Born upon some lonely island shore 
Where the wrinkled ripples run and whisper,
    Where the crested billows plunge and roar; 
Long-winged, tireless roamers and adventurers,
     Fearless breasters of the wind and sea,
In the far-off solitary places
     I have seen you floating wild and free! 

Here the high-built cities rise around you;
    Here the cliffs that tower east and west, 
Honeycombed with human habitations,
     Have no hiding for the sea-bird`s nest: 
Here the river flows begrimed and troubled;
    Here the hurrying, panting vessels fume, 
Restless, up and down the watery highway,
     While a thousand chimneys vomit gloom. 

Toil and tumult, conflict and confusion,
     Clank and clamor of the vast machine 
Human hands have built for human bondage —
     Yet amid it all you float serene;
Circling, soaring, sailing, swooping lightly
     Down to glean your harvest from the wave; 
In your heritage of air and water,
     You have kept the freedom Nature gave. 

Even so the wild-woods of Manhattan
     Saw your wheeling flocks of white and grey; 
Even so you fluttered, followed, floated,
     Round the Half-Moon creeping up the bay; 
Even so your voices creaked and chattered,
     Laughing shrilly o`er the tidal rips,
While your black and beady eyes were glistening
     Round the sullen British prison-ships. 

Children of the elemental mother,
     Fearless floaters `mid the double blue,
From the crowded boats that cross the ferries
     Many a longing heart goes out to you. 
Though the cities climb and close around us,
     Something tells us that our souls are free, 
While the sea-gulls fly above the harbor,
     While the river flows to meet the sea!
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