Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FISH, by MARIANNE MOORE Recitation by Author Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Wade / through black jade Last Line: Its youth. The sea grows old in it. Subject(s): Sea; Ocean | ||||||||
wade through black jade. Of the crow-blue mussel shells, one keeps adjusting the ash heaps; opening and shutting itself like an injured fan. The barnacles which encrust the side of the wave, cannot hide there for the submerged shafts of the sun split like spun glass, move themselves with spotlight swiftness into the crevices -- in and out, illuminating the turquoise sea of bodies. The water drives a wedge of iron through the iron edge of the cliff; whereupon the stars, pink rice-grains, ink- bespattered jellyfish, crabs like green lilies, and submarine toadstools, slide each on the other. All external marks of abuse are present on this defiant edifice -- all the physical features of ac- cident -- lack of cornice, dynamite grooves, burns, and hatchet strokes, these things stand out on it; the chasm side is dead. Repeated evidence has proved that it can live on what can not revive its youth. The sea grows old in it. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HALL OF OCEAN LIFE by JOHN HOLLANDER JULY FOURTH BY THE OCEAN by ROBINSON JEFFERS BOATS IN A FOG by ROBINSON JEFFERS CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE FIGUREHEAD by LEONIE ADAMS I MAY, I MIGHT, I MUST by MARIANNE MOORE |
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