| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | October 21 | | Trafalgar Day | | By E. Nesbit (1858–1924) |
| | | | The greatest English naval victory of the Napoleonic wars, fought on Oct. 21, 1805. The English commander, Lord Nelson, was killed. |
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LAURELS, bring laurels, sheaves on sheaves, | |
| Till England’s boughs are bare of leaves! | |
| Soon comes the lower more rare, more dear | |
| Than any laurel this year weaves— | |
| The Aloe of the hundredth year | 5 |
| Since from the smoke of Trafalgar | |
| He passed to where the heroes are, | |
| Nelson, who passed and yet is here, | |
| Whose dust is fire beneath our feet, | |
| Whose memory mans our fleet. | 10 |
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| Laurels, bring laurels, since they hold | |
| His England’s tears in each green fold, | |
| His England’s joy, his England’s pride, | |
| His England’s glories manifold. | |
| Yet what was Victory since he died? | 15 |
| And what was Death since he lives yet, | |
| Above a Nation’s worship set, | |
| Above her heroes glorified?— | |
| Nelson, who made our flag a star | |
| To lead where Victories are! | 20 | | |
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