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1852–1933

THE SURRENDER OF THE GERMAN FLEET

Henry Van Dyke

Ship after ship, and every one with a high-resounding name, From the robber-nest of Heligoland the German war-fleet came; Not victory or death they sought, but a rendezvous of shame. Sing out, sing out,

A joyful shout, Ye lovers of the sea! The “Kaiser” and the “Kaiserin,” The “König” and the “Prinz,”

The potentates of piracy, Are coming to surrender, And the ocean shall be free.

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THE SURRENDER OF THE GERMAN FLEET · Henry Van Dyke · Poetry Cove