The poem
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 earth Humanly suffering, Such as you all have done; Savagely faring forth, Sons of the midnight sun, Argonauts of the North.
Far in the land God forgot Glimmers the lure of your trail; Still in your lust are you taught Even to win is to fail. Still you must follow and fight Under the vampire wing; There in the long, long night Hoping and vanquishing.
Husbandman of the Wild, Reaping a barren gain; Scourged by desire, reconciled Unto 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.