Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TERMINALS, by BERTON BRALEY Poet's Biography First Line: A railroad station at the city's heart Last Line: Romance to every wharf at which they swing. Subject(s): Railroad Stations; Trade; Travel; Journeys; Trips | ||||||||
A railroad station at the city's heart Seems somehow like Romance come down to trade, Offering her adventures ready made According to the prices on the chart. The passengers arrive, and they depart At scheduled hours; the proper fare is paid, So many milesso much. The course is laid With cold and calm precision from the start. The magic of far journeyings is there But lost in all the scuffle of the feet, The clatter of the telegraph, the blare Of train announcers' voices that repeat Long lists of cities. Who could be endowed With visions of Romance in such a crowd? But at a wharf where cargo ships are tied, Where stores of coffee, sugar, spices, tea, Bring savor of the lands far oversea There is a spell of rolling waters wide. Here swings a ship with rusty, battered side That came from Spain. To-morrow she may be Off for the Indies. That one casting free Sails, and has sailed, wherever ships may ride. There is no straight and settled track they take No moment fixed when they shall leave a strand, They make whatever port is theirs to make And sail whenever trade and tide command. They are the true tramps royal, and they bring Romance to every wharf at which they swing. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...RICHARD, WHAT'S THAT NOISE? by RICHARD HOWARD LOOKING FOR THE GULF MOTEL by RICHARD BLANCO RIVERS INTO SEAS by LYNDA HULL DESTINATIONS by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN THE ONE WHO WAS DIFFERENT by RANDALL JARRELL THE CONFESSION OF ST. JIM-RALPH by DENIS JOHNSON SESTINA: TRAVEL NOTES by WELDON KEES TO H. B. (WITH A BOOK OF VERSE) by MAURICE BARING |
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