Rudyard Kipling

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.