Fort Mason

Grady McMurtry

4 September 1941

The guns are gone. The casements stand

Gaunt and impotent; where the sand

Dunes of another day have lain

Green parks arise and funneled rain

Sprays fountain-wise across the lawn.

The rolling years of Time have drawn

Another picture on the page

That is Fort Mason's shifting stage.

Behind the drapes the props are changed,

Within the wings the actors ranged

By rank are not the same as when

Black Point stood guard against the Men-

o-War of other nations' fleets.

Headquarters' buildings, well paved streets;

Administration of supplies

Now reigns supreme and occupies

The personnel, and in command

A General Officer whose hand

Guides and directs the flowing streams

Of goods and merchandise and reams

Into the ships and holds their course

Far out to where the Nation's force

Of arms is gathered, there to build

Our ramparts strong. They must be filled

With fighting men and guns and planes

Prepared against the day when rains

Of bombs and shells sluice down the sky.

There must be food, there must be high

Test gasoline to throw fast

Dread fighter craft above the cast

Of stalking bombers. All of these

Depend on the abilities

Of officers and men who man

Fort Mason's port. Within the plan

America has for defense

We play a vital part, though since

The days of yore our guns are gone

Another day has seen the dawn

When wars are won by those who ply

The life-blood of our arms—Supply!

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