You who have lived in the land,You who have trusted the trail,You who are strong to withstand,You who are swift to assail:Songs have I sung to beguile,Vintage of desperate years,Hard as a harlot's smile,Bitter as unshed tears.Little of joy or mirth,Little of ease I sing;Sagas of men of earthHumanly suffering,Such as you all have done;Savagely faring forth,Sons of the midnight sun,Argonauts of the North.Far in the land God forgotGlimmers the lure of your trail;Still in your lust are you taughtEven to win is to fail.Still you must follow and fightUnder the vampire wing;There in the long, long nightHoping and vanquishing.Husbandman of the Wild,Reaping a barren gain;Scourged by desire, reconciledUnto disaster and pain;These, my songs, are for you,You who are seared with the brand.God knows I have tried to be true;Please God you will understand.