Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI: 5. THE STEVEDORES, by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER Poet's Biography First Line: Frieze of warm bronze that glides with catlike movements Last Line: Far southward where a single chimney stands out aloof in the sky. Subject(s): Mississippi River; Rivers | ||||||||
Frieze of warm bronze that glides with catlike movements Over the gangplank poised and yet awaiting, The sinewy thudding rhythm of forty shuffling feet Falling like muffled drumbeats on the stillness. O roll the cotton down, Roll, roll the cotton down, From the further side of Jordan, O roll the cotton down! And the river waits, The river listens, Chuckling little banjo-notes that break with a flop on the stillness; And by the low dark shed that holds the heavy freights, Two lonely cypress tress stand up and point with stiffened fingers Far southward where a single chimney stands out aloof in the sky. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...RIVERS INTO SEAS by LYNDA HULL TO A WOMAN GLANCING UP FROM THE RIVER by LARRY LEVIS TWO-RIVER LEDGER by KHALED MATTAWA HE FINDS THE MANSION by JAMES MCMICHAEL THE RIVERS by CLARIBEL ALEGRIA VERMILION FLYCATCHER, SAN PEDRO RIVER, ARIZONA by MARGARET ATWOOD THE PORCH OVER THE RIVER by WENDELL BERRY THE RIVER BRIDGED AND FORGOT by WENDELL BERRY ARIZONA POEMS: 2. MEXICAN QUARTER by JOHN GOULD FLETCHER |
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