Rudyard Kipling

«Brazilian Verses». 1927. 4. «Such as in Ships»

SUCH as in Ships and brittle Barks
      Into the Seas descend
Shall learn how wholly on those Arks
      Our Victuals do depend.
For, when a Man would bite or sup,
      Or buy him Goods or Gear,
He needs must call the Oceans up,
      And move an Hemisphere.

Consider, now, that Indian Weed
      Which groweth o’er the Main,
With Teas and Cottons for our Need,
      And Sugar of the Cane—
Their Comings We no more regard
      Than daily Corn or Oil:
Yet, when Men waft Them Englandward,
      How infinite the Toil!

Nation and People harvesteth
      The tropique Lands among,
And Engines of tumultuous Breath
      Do draw the Yield along—
Yea, even as by Hecatombs
      Which, presently struck down
Into our Navies’ labouring Wombs
      Make Pennyworths in Town.