Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BERG (A DREAM), by HERMAN MELVILLE Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I saw a ship of martial build Last Line: Along thy dense stolidity of walls. Subject(s): Icebergs | ||||||||
I saw a ship of martial build (Her standards set, her brave apparel on) Directed as by madness mere Against a stolid iceberg steer, Nor budge it, though the infatuate ship went down. The impact made huge ice cubes fall Sullen, in tons that crashed the deck; But that one avalanche was all -- No other movement save the foundering wreck. Along the spurs of ridges pale Not any slenderest shaft and frail, A prism over glass-green gorges lone, Toppled; nor lace of traceries fine, Nor pendant drops in grot or mine Were jarred, when the stunned ship went down. Nor sole the gulls in cloud that wheeled Circling one snow-flanked peak afar, But nearer fowl the floes that skimmed And crystal beaches, felt no jar. No thrill transmitted stirred the lock Of jack-straw needle-ice at base; Towers undermined by waves -- the block Atilt impending -- kept their place. Seals, dozing sleek on sliddery ledges Slipt never, when by loftier edges Through very inertia overthrown, The impetuous ship in bafflement went down. Hard Berg (methought) so cold, so vast, With mortal damps self-overcast; Exhaling still thy dankish breath -- Adrift dissolving, bound for death; Though lumpish thou, a lumbering one -- A lumbering lubbard loitering slow, Impingers rue thee and go down, Sounding thy precipice below, Nor stir the slimy slug that sprawls Along thy dense stolidity of walls. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ICEBERGS by WILLIAM PRESCOTT FOSTER FORMERLY A SLAVE' (AN IDEALIZED PORTRAIT, BY E. VEDDER) by HERMAN MELVILLE THE COMING STORM' (A PICTURE BY R. S. GIFFORD) by HERMAN MELVILLE A DIRGE FOR MCPHERSON; KILLED IN FRONT OF ATLANTA by HERMAN MELVILLE A REQUIEM FOR SOLDIERS LOST IN OCEAN TRANSPORTS by HERMAN MELVILLE A UTILITARIAN VIEW OF THE MONITOR'S FIGHT by HERMAN MELVILLE AFTER THE PLEASURE PARTY by HERMAN MELVILLE AN UNINSCRIBED MONUMENT - BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS by HERMAN MELVILLE |
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