Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A CAPTAIN OF THE PRESS-GANG, by BLISS CARMAN Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: Shipmate, leave the ghostly shadows Last Line: Are the masters of the world. Subject(s): Press Gangs; Sea; Ocean | ||||||||
SHIPMATE, leave the ghostly shadows, Where thy boon companions throng! We will put to sea together Through the twilight with a song. Leering closer, rank and girding, In this Black Port where we bide, Reel a thousand flaring faces; But escape is on the tide. Let the tap-rooms of the city Reek till the red dawn comes round. There is better wine in plenty On the cruise where we are bound. I've aboard a hundred messmates Better than these 'long-shore knaves. There is wreckage on the shallows; It's the open sea that saves. Hark, lad, dost not hear it calling? That's the voice thy father knew, When he took the King's good cutlass In his grip, and fought it through. Who would palter at press-money When he heard that sea-cry vast? That's the call makes lords of lubbers, When they ship before the mast. Let thy cronies of the tavern Keep their kisses bought with gold; On the high seas there are regions Where the heart is never old, Where the great winds every morning Sweep the sea-floor clean and white, And upon the steel-blue arches Burnish the great stars of night; There the open hand will lose not, Nor the loosened tongue betray. Signed, and with our sailing orders, We will clear before the day; On the shining yards of heaven See a wider dawn unfurled.... The eternal slaves of beauty Are the masters of the world. | 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 A MORE ANCIENT MARINER by BLISS CARMAN |
|