Cargoes

Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir
Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,
     With a cargo of ivory,
     And apes and peacocks,
Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.

Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus,
Dipping through the Tropics by the palm-green shores,
     With a cargo of diamonds,
     Emeralds, amethysts,
Topazes, and cinnamon, and gold moidores.

Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack
Butting through the Channel in the mad March days,
     With a cargo of Tyne coal,
     Road rain, pig lead,
Firewood, ironware, and cheap tin trays.

-John Masefield