Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, RESCUE, by JEAN STARR UNTERMEYER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

RESCUE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Wind and wave and the swinging rope
Last Line: But not of you.
Subject(s): Death; Love; Sea; Dead, The; Ocean


WIND and wave and the swinging rope
Were calling me last night;
None to save and little hope,
No inner light.

Each snarling lash of the stormy sea
Curled like a hungry tongue.
One desperate splash -- and no use to me
The noose that swung!

Death reached out three crooked claws
To still my clamoring pain.
I wheeled about, and Life's gray jaws
Grinned once again.

To sea I gazed, and then I turned
Stricken toward the shore,
Praying half-crazed to a moon that burned
Above your door.

And at your door, you discovered me;
And at your heart, I sobbed . . .
And if there be more of eternity
Let me be robbed.

Let me be clipped of that heritage
And burned for ages through;
Freed and stripped of my fear and rage --
But not of you.





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