A ship with shields before the sun
Six maidens round the mast
A red-gold crown on every one
A green gown on the last
The fluttering green banners there
Are wrought with ladies' heads most fair
And a portraiture of Guenevere
The middle of each sail doth bear
A ship with sails before the wind
And round the helm six knights
Their heaumes are on, whereby, half blind
They pass by many sights
The tattered scarlet banners there
Right soon will leave the spear-heads bare
Those six knights sorrowfully bear
In all their heaumes some yellow hair
Near Avalon was written by William Morris.
William Morris released Near Avalon on Fri Jan 01 1858.